The next place we visited on Study Tour was Pusading Temple, the favored temple of the emperors of the Qing dynasty. It was built from 471 to 499 AD, repaired and renamed the Great Manjusri Temple in 1403 AD. Pusading is notable for its yellow roofs and imperial dragon imagery, featuring the five-clawed dragon of the emperor, neither of which were allowed to be displayed anywhere but the Forbidden City and other imperial palaces. Pusading is allowed these icons because it served as the temporary imperial palace when Qing Emperors would visit Wutai. The yellow roofs are especially important, as the temple belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, a sect which prefers yellow roofs but were only allowed to use them with imperial permission. Pusading is one of the few Yellow Hat temples to feature yellow roofs in China.
The first picture is of the Sakayamuni Hall at Pusading. This photo clearly shows the important yellow roofs that set Pusading apart from other Chinese temples. The second picture is of the Pusading Incense Burner, the largest incense burner at Wutai mountain. Interestingly, this item was only added to the temple in 2000, a gift from a Tibetan monastery. The third photo is of a group of monks we saw sitting across from the Sakayamuni hall, talking to some pilgrims. We also saw a Buddhist nun meditating in front of a statue in one of the smaller halls. I have a photo where she is visible, but I am not sure it would be respectful to post it online. The fourth picture is of the steps leading down to the road from Pusading. In modern times, this staircase serves as Pusading's exit, though it was originally its entrance. The glass-covered section is the Dragon Way, the steps reserved for use by the Emperor and Empress when they would visit Pusading. The Dragon Way has been amazingly well preserved.
Another interesting thing we saw at Pusading was a statue of Manjusri covered in drapery. Initially, this did not stand out to me, but Dr. Clark pointed out that the statue was likely originally created as a Yabyum image, a symbol of tantric sex, an important part of Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese Communist Party has made an effort to censor all such images in China, and this would explain why most of Manjusri's statue was covered in cloth, with only his head visible.
That's all for Pusading!
The first picture is of the Sakayamuni Hall at Pusading. This photo clearly shows the important yellow roofs that set Pusading apart from other Chinese temples. The second picture is of the Pusading Incense Burner, the largest incense burner at Wutai mountain. Interestingly, this item was only added to the temple in 2000, a gift from a Tibetan monastery. The third photo is of a group of monks we saw sitting across from the Sakayamuni hall, talking to some pilgrims. We also saw a Buddhist nun meditating in front of a statue in one of the smaller halls. I have a photo where she is visible, but I am not sure it would be respectful to post it online. The fourth picture is of the steps leading down to the road from Pusading. In modern times, this staircase serves as Pusading's exit, though it was originally its entrance. The glass-covered section is the Dragon Way, the steps reserved for use by the Emperor and Empress when they would visit Pusading. The Dragon Way has been amazingly well preserved.
Another interesting thing we saw at Pusading was a statue of Manjusri covered in drapery. Initially, this did not stand out to me, but Dr. Clark pointed out that the statue was likely originally created as a Yabyum image, a symbol of tantric sex, an important part of Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese Communist Party has made an effort to censor all such images in China, and this would explain why most of Manjusri's statue was covered in cloth, with only his head visible.
That's all for Pusading!
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