Putuo Mountain: Putuo Mountain is a Guanyin Bodhisattva's Daoist Temple

普陀山：普陀山是观音菩萨道场

Putuo Mountain, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains, is the Taoist site of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

----- Zhuge Changqing

   Putuo Mountain is one of the Taoist sites of the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion and Mercy, Guan Shi Yin.

   It is one of the four most famous Buddhist mountains in China, along with "the Taoist temple of Manjushri Bodhisattva on Wutai Mountain in Shanxi Province, the Taoist temple of Pu Xian Bodhisattva on Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province and the Taoist temple of Jizo King Bodhisattva on Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui Province".

   After the Tang Dynasty, successive emperors gave money to expand the monastery and promote the culture of Guanyin.

  In 967 A.D., Zhao Kuangyin, the first emperor of the Song Dynasty, sent a tribute of incense and streamers to Mount Putuo, setting a precedent for the court to make offerings. In the third year of the Song Dynasty (1080 AD), the court gave the temple a plaque entitled "Baotuo Guanyin Temple". 

   In 1214, Emperor Ningzong of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Yuan, gave a plaque to the temple, "Yuantong Baojian", and designated Mount Putuo as a place dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin. The name of the mountain was changed to Putuo Luojia, also known as Mount Putuo Luojia, according to the Buddhist scripture "Mian Tan Luojia". As a result, Putuo Mountain became one of the four great Bodhisattva sites in China.

   Zhuge Changqing: If you have the chance to travel, you can go and visit Guanyin Bodhisattva.

   Today, Zhuge Changqing has put together a tourist commentary on Mount Putuo to share with those who have the opportunity.

   The tour words are taken from Baidu and from the commentary provided by a kindred spirit, "Putuo Shoufu", for which I would like to thank you.

    Zhuge Changqing: If you want to go to Putuo Mountain, you will have a basic understanding after reading this tour guide.

    Basic introduction to Putuo Mountain.

    1、Putuo Mountain is a famous Guanyin dojo, and is known as one of the four famous Buddhist mountains along with Wutai Mountain, Emei Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain. It is located in the eastern part of Zhejiang Province, and is a small island in the Zhoushan Islands, with an area of 12.5 square kilometres.

    During the Xiantong period of the Tang Dynasty, a Japanese monk, Master Hui E, invited the Goddess of Mercy from Wutai Mountain to return home by boat. In its heyday, there were 3 large temples, 88 nunneries, 128 huts and more than 4,000 monks and nuns.

    Every year, on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month (Guanyin's Birthday), the 19th day of the 6th lunar month (Guanyin's Attainment) and the 19th day of the 9th lunar month (Guanyin's Departure), the faithful from all directions gather in the land of Buddha, and the mountain is filled with smoke and candlelight. At every Buddhist event, the faithful seek to worship, and sometimes the celestial signs are auspicious, adding to the magic, sacredness and mystery of Putuo Mountain. With more than a thousand years of Buddhist activities, Putuo Mountain has accumulated a profound Buddhist cultural heritage as a pure land. The belief in Guanyin has been called "the faith of half of Asia" by scholars.

    4、Some people once commented on the beauty of Putuo Mountain: "The West Lake is the best mountain and the best lake; the Putuo is the best mountain and the best sea." Surrounded by sea on all sides, Putuo Mountain is the only Buddhist resort located on the sea among the four famous Buddhist mountains, and is known as the "First Pure Place on Earth". In addition to the mysterious Buddhist temples, pagodas and cliffs, rocks and forests, the island is richly wooded with birdsong and flowers, including not only the ancient camphor trees, which are nearly 1,000 years old, but also the Putuo gooseberry, which is unique to China. The island is surrounded by white waves, fishing sails, silver waves and golden sands surrounded by verdant peaks and quiet ancient temples, forming a splendid and colourful picture scroll.

     5、The main attractions are the three major temples: Puji Zen Temple, Fa Yu Zen Temple and Huiji Zen Temple.

    6、The symbols of Putuo Mountain are the large bronze statue of South Sea Goddess of Mercy, the Purple Bamboo Forest, and the West Heaven Scenic Area, which combines natural landscape and temples. Whenever summer comes, tourists who come to Putuo to escape the summer heat have gathered at the first seaside bathing area of Zhejiang Province, One Hundred Steps Sand, which adds another bright landscape to Putuo Mountain.  

   "There is an immortal mountain on the sea, and the mountain is in the middle of nothingness". With its sacred status as a Guanyin site and its beautiful natural scenery, Putuo Mountain has become a well-known tourist destination in China and abroad. I believe you can't wait to embark on this pilgrimage, now please take our carefully crafted for you to visit Mount Putuo strategy, as well as attractions guide, with me into this sea and sky Buddha country it.

    First, one of the three temples of Putuo Mountain: Puji Temple

   According to Zhuge Changqing: Puji Temple = Buddhism to universalize all sentient beings and relieve them. When you arrive at this temple you have to think about how you can make some contribution to the benefit of society and the relief of the living beings.

   We are now at Puji Temple, the first major temple in Putuo Mountain. Puji Temple is also known as the "former temple".

    1. Historical origin. Its predecessor was the famous "Guanyin Temple". In the seventh year of the Song Dynasty, the emperor wrote a plaque reading "Yuan Tong Bao Hall", designating this place as a temple dedicated to Guanyin. The temple was later destroyed several times, but in the 33rd year of the reign of the Ming Emperor Wanli, the court sent the eunuch Zhang Qian to expand the temple and gave it the title of "Guoguo Yongshou Putuo Zen Temple". In the 38th year of the Kangxi Dynasty, the temple was given the title 'Puji Qunling', and by the Yongzheng Dynasty, it had basically taken on its present scale.

    In front of Puji Temple there is a stone pagoda about 20 metres high, with four pillars and three doors, and the horizontal eyebrows on the pillars are carved with exquisite cloud damask and stone gourds. On the north side of the pagoda, there is a stone plaque which reads "Civil and military officials and citizens must dismount here". According to legend, this was an imperial decree issued by the emperor, and when officials arrived here in the past, civil officials dismounted from their sedan chairs and military officials dismounted from their horses to show their reverence for the Bodhisattva Guanyin.

    2. The lotus flower "Haiyin Pond". After the stone pagoda is a lotus pond of about 15 acres, named "sea seal pond", also called "release pond", built in the Ming Dynasty. The name "Haiyin" refers to the Buddha's wisdom, which is like the sea, and is a universal Buddhist activity that has developed from the fusion of the Buddhist teachings of "compassion" and "not killing".

    According to Zhuge Changqing, the Bodhisattva uses the "Sea Seal Pond" to inspire beings to be diligent in their studies, to reflect on their enlightenment, and to use their wisdom to take every step in life. The pond is used to inspire beings to abstain from killing and releasing, to eat vegetarianism and to do good deeds, so that they can accumulate great blessings.

    There are three bridges over the Haiyin Pond, and after walking across the middle one you will come to the Royal Tablet Pavilion, built during the Yongzheng reign, which contains the history of Putuo Mountain. Of course, if you are interested, you can also visit the "Guanyin Bodhisattva" wall in the east. It is said that in addition to her great compassion, Guanyin Bodhisattva also has a vast wisdom to see everything in the world, so she is sometimes called "Guanyin", referring to her ability to hear the people's suffering, and sometimes "Guanyin", referring to her ability to perceive everything in the world.

    3. The legend of the mountain gate. When you arrive at the temple you will no doubt wonder, "How can I get in when the main gate is closed?" Here is another story. According to legend, the Qianlong Emperor had forgotten to return from a night trip to Putuo Mountain, and when he returned to Puji Temple the temple gate was already closed and he asked for the door to be opened but was refused. The young monk at the gate said, "The state has its laws and the temple has its rules", so Qianlong had no choice but to enter the temple through the east gate. When Qianlong returned to the palace, he was extremely angry about this and issued a decree that from now on, this door could not be opened. This has continued to the present day, and can only be opened when the head of state, the temple's bodhisattva is inaugurated or when the abbot enters for the first time, and visitors can only enter through the side door on normal days.

     4. The Hall of the Heavenly King and the Hall of the Circle. After passing the Hall of the Heavenly King, which is dedicated to Maitreya Buddha, we can come to the Great Hall of the Circle, the main hall in Puji Temple dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

   The hall is seven rooms wide and six rooms in, and is so large and lofty that it can accommodate thousands of people, so it is also known as the "Great Hall of Living". When you enter the hall, you can see a statue of Vishnu Kuan Yin, about nine metres high, wearing the crown of Vishnu, on which is the statue of Amitabha Buddha, with kind brows and good eyes, smiling, and standing beside him are Shan Cai and the dragon lady, with their innocent and lively demeanour.

   Zhuge Changqing: This temple is called the 'Temple of the Circle of the Circle' precisely because Guanyin is able to see whenever she hears a cry for help, which means that she has 'ear-root communication, i.e. the six roots of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind'. The word "roundness" has thus become synonymous with Guanyin, meaning "unbiased and unhindered", and perfect in its reach. It is also a reminder of the need for perfection in dealing with problems.

   In China, the Bodhisattva Guanyin is a household name and is known to all women and children. According to Buddhist scriptures, if one chants his name in times of trouble, the Bodhisattva will hear him and come to his rescue, hence the name 'Guanyin'. In the Tang Dynasty, the word "Shi" was omitted to avoid the name of Li Shimin, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and the name was shortened to "Guanyin", which is still used today. Most people do not necessarily know the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha, but few do not know the Bodhisattva Guanyin, who has become a central figure in folk Buddhism and folk religion in general.

   Why is the temple in front of us called the 'Temple of the Round Passage'? In fact, it is because when Guanyin hears a cry for help, he can see it with his eyes, which means that he has "ear-root communication, that is, communication of the six roots of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind". The word 'roundness' has become synonymous with Guanyin, meaning 'unbiased, unhindered' and complete.

    On each side of the statue are 16 Guanyin Bodhisattvas in different costumes and forms, known as the 'Thirty-two Bodhisattvas of Guanyin', which are all images of Guanyin in different capacities teaching the world. The thirty-two bodies of Guanyin can only be worshipped as a whole, not individually, and the body of Guanyin enshrined in the middle is a unique feature of the temple.

    The main hall is flanked by two other halls, the eastern one dedicated to Manjushri and the western one to Pushyan, and there is also a Hall of Earth Treasury in the Dharma Hall dedicated to Earth Treasury Bodhisattva.

    5、Duo Bao Pagoda. After touring the halls of Puji Temple, you can also visit the Duo Bao Pagoda located in the southeast of the temple. Built in the Yuan Dynasty, the pagoda was constructed from Taihu stones brought back from Jiangnan by the monks of Putuo Mountain, and named after the meaning of "Many Treasures Buddha Pagoda" in the Dharma Flower Sutra. The pagoda is simple and dignified in appearance, unlike traditional Chinese pagodas which are delicate and small, and each tier of the pagoda is carved with niches on all four sides, housing a cross-legged seated Buddha statue, a Buddhist tantric form believed in by the ancient Mongol rulers, in the style of the Yuan dynasty. According to research, there are only two such pagodas in China, the other being in the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, so it too is of high heritage value.

   To the east of the pagoda is the famous seaside bathing area of Putuo Mountain, Baibu Sha, where the sand is pure, the beach is beautiful and the waves are endless, so if you have enough time you may want to go there to feel something.

   Two of the three major temples in Putuo Mountain: Huiji Temple

   Dear friends, now you are at the highest point of Putuo Mountain - the Buddha's Peak. It is also called "Bodhisattva's Peak" and is a sacred place for believers to worship. In addition, due to its unique geographical location, you can sometimes enjoy the rare mirage and Buddha's light here, so there is a saying that "if you don't go to the Buddha's Peak, you are not in Putuo Mountain".

   1、The origin of Huijie Temple. Why is it called Huijie Temple?

According to Zhuge Changqing: Huizi Temple = to use wisdom to help all beings and to bring about lifelong enlightenment and wisdom. This temple also reminds those who have a destiny to use their wisdom to enlighten those who have a destiny.

   It is perched on the top of the mountain, facing the sea, surrounded by immortal clouds, with a magnificent view, but because it is built between the valleys, the area is limited, so the layout of Huijie Temple takes the Tianwang Hall and the Mahamudra Hall as the short axis, and unfolds in an incomplete symmetry to both sides. In particular, the new Chinese white jade lotus pond in the east courtyard, carved fences and jade masonry, water pavilions and bridges, a unique flavor of the garden of Jiangnan.

   2、The main hall of Huijie Temple, the Mahamuni Hall, is dedicated to Buddha Shakyamuni and his two disciples, Ananda and Gautama. The main hall is dedicated to Buddha, unlike other temples in Putuo Mountain where the main hall is dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva. It turns out, ah, that offering the Buddha at the top of the mountain instead of Guanyin Bodhisattva implies the supremacy of the Buddha, even in Guanyin Bodhisattva's dojo.

   3. The protectors of the Dharma Heaven. In the chambers on either side of the main hall are the 'Twenty Heavenly Gods', who, to put it simply, are the protectors of Buddhism. Buddhism believes that when the Buddha spreads the Dharma in the world, if there is no effective protector of the Dharma, the Buddha's path will fall. They all have extraordinary powers. They can help the Buddha to preach the Dharma and also deter those who endanger the Dharma.

   Zhuge Changqing: Whenever you go to temples, Taoist temples and famous sights, you are protected by Dharma-protecting deities. We must remember that we must remain respectful and never speak uncivilised or disrespectful words, otherwise, the Dharma Protector God will definitely carry out punishment.

   But the Buddhist deities of Dharma protection are not just the twenty heavenly bodies, but a large team called the Eight Divisions of Heaven and Dragon, representing the eight divisions, of which the heavenly and dragon divisions are the most important, and the twenty heavenly bodies before us belong to the "heavenly" division. In order to show their respect for the Buddha, these heavenly deities are all inclined 15 degrees forward in their posture.

    4. The Temple of Guanyin. As one of the three major temples on Mount Putuo, Huijie Temple also has a hall dedicated to Guanyin, called the Hall of Guanyin, which differs from the halls of other temples in that in addition to a 2.7-metre-high statue of Guanyin, the four walls are also inlaid with a total of over 100 line-carved statues of Guanyin, a collection of masterpieces painted by famous artists from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. These precious Guan Yin stone statues are also important cultural relics of Huijie Temple.

    It is said to have been first brought by a Burmese monk on a pilgrimage to Putuo Mountain in ancient times. The tree is more than 13 metres high and is bifurcated from the surface, with the forks splitting in two. However, because of its extremely low reproduction rate, it has long been extinct in its native Myanmar and is a rarity. It has therefore become the symbol of Putuo, the Bodhi of the Buddhist world.

   If you are interested in other precious plants on Putuo Mountain, you may wish to visit the new ginger tree at the bottom of the slope behind the temple, a rare species only found in Zhejiang Province, known as the "Buddha's Light Tree".

    5. View of Mount Luojia from afar. If the weather is clear, you can see the small and large islands of the Zhoushan archipelago dotted around the East China Sea like a lotus flower, and the most famous of these islands is Luojia Mountain not far away. The most famous of these islands is Luojia Mountain, which is not far away. Look at the shape of Luojia Mountain, does it look like a kind-eyed Goddess of Mercy lying peacefully on the surface of the sea? If you look carefully, you can distinguish her head, neck, chest and feet, which is why it is also known as the 'Sleeping Goddess' or the 'Reclining Buddha on the Sea'. It is said that it was at Mount Luojia that Guanyin attained the Way and then crossed the sea to open up a dojo at Putuo Mountain.

   Three of the three major temples on Putuo Mountain: Fa Yu Temple.

   On the way down the hill to Fa Yu Temple, you can admire a number of stone carvings, among which the four words "Sea and Sky Buddha Country" carved on a huge rock are the most famous, which is said to be the handwriting of Hou Jigao, a famous general who fought against Japanese in the Ming Dynasty.

   It is the second largest temple on Mount Putuo, and is also called the "Back Temple" because it is located behind the first temple, Puji Temple.

   1. The origin of Dharma Rain Temple. According to Buddhists, the Dharma nourishes all beings, just like rainwater does for all things, hence the expression 'Dharma Rain'. The temple was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and after many disasters, the emperor gave it the name "Tianhua Fa Yu" in the 38th year of the Kangxi Dynasty, thus naming it "Fa Yu Zen Temple".

   Zhuge Changqing: This temple also reminds those who have a destiny that they should actively promote Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism in their lives, so that good classical methods can spread to all living creatures in the world like rainwater.

   Looking at the Dharma Rain Temple from a distance, you will notice that in terms of architectural layout, it has adopted the method of taking the momentum from the mountain and ascending in groups, with several halls rising step by step on a pedestal, with extraordinary grandeur. The whole temple is covered with glazed tiles of sky blue, light green, goose yellow, purple and red, and the sun shines on the roofs, creating a beautiful scene of "Buddha's light shining through", giving the impression of a palace in the sky. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Kang Youwei once wrote, "Jinping Linhai Waves, Fayu Flying Smallpox" to depict the beautiful scenery of the mountains and the sea at Fayu Temple.

    2. Lotus Pond. The lotus seeds produced here were once used as a tribute by the Hangzhou Weaving Office to the court. There is a single-hole stone arch bridge over the pond, called the Haihui Bridge, which means the gathering of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, whose virtues are as deep and numerous as the vast and deep sea. The bridge divides the pond into two pools on the east and west, and the double-sided relief carvings on both sides of the railing have more than 50 designs of various drama stories, birds and animals, etc. The carvings are exquisite and are the best of the stone carvings in Putuo Mountain.

    3. Nine Dragon Wall. This wall is two metres high and 12 metres long, with the lower plate being the Sumeru seat, the four sides and the top of the flying eaves, and the upper stone beams and tiles carved with seventeen small dragons of different shapes, while the nine green dragons on the middle stone plate are dancing with their heads and claws, fighting for the dragon pearl, and are as vivid as life. At first glance, it seems to be carved from a single block of lapis lazuli, but if you look closely enough, you will see that it is made from 60 pieces of 70cm square high quality lapis lazuli, which have been carved and joined together without a trace, making people admire the exquisite craftsmanship.

    4. Jade Buddha Hall. After admiring the Nine Dragon Wall, we went through the Hall of the Heavenly Kings to visit the Jade Buddha Hall, the first floor of the Dharma Rain Temple, which got its name from the fact that it housed a white jade statue of Sakyamuni invited from Burma at the end of the Qing Dynasty, but unfortunately it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, and now houses a statue of Buddha invited from Beijing's Yongle Palace in 1985. On the railings of the platform behind the Jade Buddha Hall is a carving of the "Twenty-four Filial Virtues", which was made during the Yongzheng period. The 24 filial sons in the picture, from the emperor to the people, embody the traditional virtue of the Chinese people in respecting the elderly and are a testimony to the integration of Buddhism and Confucianism.

    5. The Nine Dragons Treasure Hall. Next we come to the most famous part of the temple, the Nine Dragons Treasure Hall. According to the "Mount Putuo Records", in March of the 38th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the emperor visited Hangzhou and met with the head of Fayu Temple and issued a decree to "demolish the old hall in Jinling to give it to the Emperor".

     The most distinctive feature is the Nine Dragons Algal Well, which is a surviving relic from the Ming Dynasty. Looking up, you can see a large ball of pearls hanging from the bottom of the algal well, with one dragon on top and eight pillars surrounded by eight dragons, as if they were trying to snatch the pearl, forming a pattern of 'nine dragons playing with pearls', which is realistic and ingenious. It is said that the Nine Dragons Algae Well also serves as a fire prevention device, as the dragons can spit out water, and the shape of the algae well can gather water, so if the incense offered to the worshippers accidentally ignites the scripture streamers in front of the Buddha, the nine dragons on the temple will spit out water to put out the fire, thus, the Nine Dragons Algae Well has become a treasure of Putuo Mountain.

    The temple is also known as the "Hall of the Nine Dragons Guanyin", as it houses the 10-metre high statue of Vishnu. On either side of the statue are 18 statues of Luohan in asceticism, while on the other side of the hall is a magnificent picture of Guanyin of the Sea Island. In the centre of the scene, the Bodhisattva stands on the back of a huge arowana, holding a purifying bottle in one hand and a willow branch in the other, waving them outwards. The purifying bottle and willow branch in the Bodhisattva's hand originally meant to sprinkle Dharma rain and promote Buddhism, but later evolved into a variety of meanings. It is believed that the willow branch can eliminate disasters and illnesses, and that the sweet dew in the bottle is sprinkled throughout the world with the willow branch, implying that the compassionate Goddess of Mercy uses pure water to ferry all beings out of suffering and to the other side of the world of bliss. The painting also includes buildings such as the heavenly court and the dragon's palace, and the whole scene is well laid out, with a large number of characters, and is exquisitely detailed. [/

 Purple Bamboo Forest (Zhuge Changqing: Purple Bamboo Forest, representing Guanyin Bodhisattva)

  When you see the dense purple bamboo and the same purple stone in front of you, we have arrived at the Purple Bamboo Forest, which may sound very familiar to you, right? For those who have read "Journey to the West", you will remember that the Purple Bamboo Forest was the residence of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. When the Tang monk and his disciples were in danger several times on their way to get the scriptures, the Monkey King went to the Purple Bamboo Forest in the South China Sea to seek help from the Bodhisattva Guanyin.

   1. "Listen to the Tide". In the Purple Bamboo Grove, there is a Purple Bamboo Grove Zen Monastery built in the Ming Dynasty. It was originally called "Listen to the Tide" because it was built by the sea and the sound of waves was so loud.

   As you walk towards the sea, you can see a stone tablet in front of you, inscribed with the words "No Finger Burning", which was erected by the government during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Originally, many good men and women used to wrap cotton around their fingers, dip them in candle oil and light them as incense candles in the hope of seeing Guanyin appear and extradite themselves to the Western Paradise. A governor of the Ming dynasty in the area felt that this practice was contrary to the Buddha's intention of being compassionate and universal, so he issued an order forbidding it and erected this monument, stating that if anyone did it again, they would be arrested. Since then, the practice has slowly been banned. With the changes in history, cracks in the stone monument can be seen everywhere and the inscription is somewhat mutilated.

   2. Refusal to go to Guanyin Yuan. It is said that during the Xiantong period of the Tang Dynasty, a Japanese monk, Master Hui E, invited the statue of Guanyin from Wutai Mountain to return home on a ship, and when the ship was passing through the Lotus Ocean in Putuo, the wind and waves suddenly became so strong that countless iron lotus flowers (now called Lotus Ocean) emerged from the ocean. The ship could not proceed because the sea was blocked. For three days and nights, the ship could not sail out and had to circle around Putuo Mountain.

  When Hui E saw this wonder, he immediately knelt down in front of the holy image and begged for penance, saying, "Great Master, I would like to ask the holy image of the Bodhisattva to return to my country to make offerings because the holy image is so solemn and because Buddhism is not yet widespread in my country and holy images are rare. If it is taken because I am not with it, or if our sentient beings do not have the means to offer it, I will build a fine house here and offer it to the holy image. When Hui E finished his penance, the boat sailed to the Chao Yin cave and stopped peacefully.

  After climbing up the mountain, Hui E found a fisherman's hut near the Chao Yin Cave and met the owner of the hut to explain his intentions. He was overjoyed and said, "The fact that the Bodhisattva is willing to live on this deserted island means that we are very close to each other. Let us ask the master and the Bodhisattva to stay here together. I will give up my house and build a nunnery to worship the Bodhisattva, and I will gather all the people of the mountain to worship the Bodhisattva. The people called this nunnery "the Buddha of the Mountain". The people called this nunnery "Kuan Yin Yuan" and Hui E became the first founder of Mount Putuo.

  Since then, Putuo Mountain has become the famous Guanyin Bodhisattva's dojo in China, and Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of great compassion and inspiration, has become a household name.

   3. Ritual Buddha Square. Walking south, you can come to the Ritual Buddha Square and visit the new iconic Buddhist building "Bronze Statue of South Sea Goddess of Mercy" in Putuo Mountain in recent years. In front of the bronze statue there is a pair of granite lions, each weighing about 7 tons, while the four Vajra Rexes, 3.9 metres high, are also carved out of granite, majestic and solemn, guarding the Buddha's gate.

   Standing on the square, looking up at the great compassionate image of the South Sea Goddess of Mercy, if it is a clear day, against the blue sky and white clouds, it looks as if the Goddess of Mercy is walking towards us, making people feel like worshipping it. The Buddha is 18 metres tall, with a 2-metre high lotus seat and a total weight of 70 tonnes, with the face alone weighing 1.42 tonnes and containing 6.5 kilograms of pure gold. The entire bronze statue is assembled from 96 sub-golden bronze wall panels and the welds are polished to a seamless finish using the grinding and polishing method, which is remarkable for its exquisite craftsmanship.

   It is said that when Venerable Miao Shan announced the opening of the statue at 8am in the morning, the dark clouds above the statue lifted and the Buddha's light shone brightly.

   If you are interested, you can also visit the Hall of Five Hundred Guanyin at the base of the bronze statue and the Hall of Merit. The Hall of Five Hundred Guanyin houses 500 holy statues of Guanyin in various forms, while the frescoes in the Hall of Merit are finely carved and vivid, showing us not only their superb carving techniques but also the profound connotation of Buddhist culture in Putuo Mountain.

   V. The South Sea Goddess of Mercy attraction. Now we are going to visit the newly built Nanhai Guanyin attraction in Putuo Mountain, now please follow me in to visit.

   (Ticket gate - before going up the steps)

   1、The green stone slab is one piece in three steps. (Zhuge Changqing: A symbol of three steps to worship.) Look, everyone, the middle of the marble path beneath our feet is very regularly paved with green stone slabs, each carved with a lotus flower. The lotus is an auspicious object of Buddhism, and it has one characteristic: "to emerge from the mud without dyeing it, to wash the lotus without becoming a demon", symbolising that our Buddhism comes from the earthly world and is above it. The slabs of green stone are placed every three steps, allowing the pilgrims to pay their respects in three steps.

   The railings on the left hand side are also carved out of lapis lazuli, and each slab has a Buddhist story carved into the front and back of it, making a total of 60 pictures of Buddhist life release. They show that there is a bond between humans and animals, and that animals know how to repay kindness, reflecting the Buddhist idea of avoiding killing and releasing more animals. The poems were written by Li Shutong and the painting is by the hand of Feng Zikai, a famous Chinese calligrapher and painter.

   (Finish the marble path and go up the steps)

   2. The meaning of the 33 steps. Now we are going up the steps, please guess how many steps there are? (Guess with the guests, then let everyone walk up to verify)

   There are a total of 33 steps here, and these 33 steps are not made up randomly, they have multiple meanings.

   Firstly, on the island, the three major incense periods are the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month, the 19th day of the 6th lunar month and the 19th day of the 9th lunar month.

   Secondly, three, six and nine are auspicious Buddhist numbers, three plus three makes six and three times three makes nine.

   (c) The main temple of Guanyin, the Temple of the Round Treasure (inside Puji Temple), houses the main body of Guanyin, plus 32 incarnations on either side, making exactly 33.

   Fourthly, the circumference of Putuo Mountain around the island is 33 kilometres (coincidentally).

   3. The bronze statue of Guanyin.

   When you arrive at the Ritual Square, there is a stone tablet on the left hand side with a passage from the Avatamsaka Sutra, which reads "A brave husband, Guanyin, lives on this mountain for the benefit of all sentient beings." Guests may ask: How can Guan Yin, who is clearly a daughter, be a brave and fierce husband?

   Zhuge Changqing: Brave and fierce husband - embodying the mind of Vajra, the Bodhisattva of Guan Yin belongs to the Great Self, and can change at any time to teach sentient beings.

    Fellow group members, now facing us is the landmark of Putuo Mountain - the South Sea Goddess of Mercy. The statue is 18 metres high and weighs about 72 tonnes, the lotus platform at the foot is 2 metres high and 8 metres in diameter, and the two-storey merit hall underneath is 13 metres high, adding up to a total of 33 metres (the 33 metres has been explained earlier, and is divided into three parts because there are three major incense periods each year). The work was started on the 19th day of the 9th month of the 97th lunar year, and was opened on the 29th day of the 29th month of the 99th lunar year (to avoid the peak of the incense festival period and the birth of the Medicine Buddha) (the story of the opening and manifestation is omitted). 96 pieces of 1cm thick sub-golden copper alloy were used, which were transported from the Luoyang copper processing plant to Putuo Mountain and then polished and polished on site, and then a layer of resin lacquer was added to the outside to prevent corrosion. The face of Guanyin is the 97th piece, incorporating 13kg of pure gold and weighing approximately 2 tonnes, making it the largest and heaviest piece.

   The statue of Kuan Yin is slightly tilted forward at 15 degrees, with his clothes flying, holding the wheel of Dharma in his left hand and casting the Great Seal of Fearlessness with his right hand, a creation of the floating sea goddess. Please look carefully: what does the wheel of Dharma in Kuan Yin's hand look like? (Guests answer) Yes! It is the steering wheel - the rudder - of a fisherman's boat. Please look (point your finger over) across the river is the famous Shenjiamen fishing port, where many local people fish for a living and depend on the sky for their livelihood. In the old days, when the weather was bad and the fishermen went out to catch fish, they usually did not return, so they put all their hopes for their livelihood and harvest on Guanyin. Guanyin holds the rudder firmly in her hand and applies the seal of fearlessness, signifying that she will protect the fishermen on their fishing trips and that all disasters will be eliminated. The waterway in front of the Goddess of Mercy is where the fishermen must go to catch their catch. Usually, when they pass by, they kneel down and offer three incense sticks to the Goddess of Mercy and then place them on the bow of the boat to bless them with a safe and fruitful trip.

   (Looking back) The face of Guanyin is full-moon shaped, which was the aesthetic of Guanyin in the Tang Dynasty, with eyebrows like willow leaves and eyes downcast. It is said that there are also rules for the opening of Guanyin's two eyes, about 15 degrees, and that it is not acceptable to open them too wide or too small. This means that she is very close to us mortals and has no sense of distance, so you can tell her anything that bothers you. She will never tell a third person.

   Have you noticed that the ears of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Luohans are particularly long? This is a warning to us to listen more in general - that is, not to listen to one side's opinion, but to listen to a wide range of opinions; to see more, to talk less and to do more.

  Zhuge Changqing: The ears of the Buddha, Bodhisattva and Luohan are all particularly long, one is an induction of great blessings; the other is an admonition to listen more, see more, talk less and do more in general.

   4. Large stone sculpture. Please look at the right side of the bronze statue of Guanyin, that is to the west, there is a large stone sculpture of Xuanzang taking the scriptures; and to the east, there is Jianzhen East Crossing, two stone comic strips bringing to life two famous figures and historical facts from our Buddhist history. We have enjoyed the bronze and stone carvings in the square, now please follow me to the Hall of Merit and Virtue to see the wood and jade carvings.    

   5. The Hall of Merit and Virtue. Before I enter the Hall of Merit and Virtue, please look at the two golden triangles on the round arch in the middle, can you guess what they mean? （Can you guess what they mean? (The guests are generally very clever.) Yes, it's a handshake! We are going to go in with our hands together and respectfully visit.

   The large pillar in front of us is a pinnacle, 13 metres in diameter, and apart from supporting the weight of the statue, it is also resistant to typhoons of magnitude 12 and earthquakes of magnitude 7. The periphery of the statue is made of purple bronze for aesthetic purposes, and a 3cm thick glass cover is added for corrosion protection. The sculpture on the southeast and west sides of the bronze is a picture of Guanyin saying ten worlds, and the sculpture on the north side is the first Abbot of Putuo Mountain, Miao Shan, who, after being elected as the first Abbot in 1989, spent ten years (when the Cultural Revolution had just ended) restoring the architecture of Putuo Mountain and making it famous at home and abroad, especially in Southeast Asia. It was he who initiated the building of Nanhai Guanyin [because the then president of the National Buddhist Association, Zhao Puchu (who was a good friend of Miao Lao during his lifetime), had a wish that five open-air statues of Buddha be used to bless China with good weather and peace in the east, west, north and south of the country!

   These five open-air Buddha statues are: (East) Nanhai Guanyin at Putuo Mountain, (South) Nanshan Guanyin in Hainan, (West) Leshan Great Buddha in Sichuan, (North) Qianshan Great Buddha in Liaoning, and (Middle) Lingshan Great Buddha in Wuxi].

   Zhuge Changqing: The five great Buddhas and Bodhisattvas bless China.

   In addition to these, there are three other major merits of the Great Monk Miao-shan: Yangzhi-an - for the old age of the old masters on the mountain; the Buddhist College - the national Buddhist fine monastery, Yinxiu-an; and the Puji Hospital - -In the spirit of saving lives and helping the injured, providing medical services for the people of the island and incense tourists. No registration fee outpatient fee, drugs are supplied at cost and examination fees are half of the national standard pricing. These four merits are all carved around the bronze statue of Miao Lao, who passed away on 26 February 2002 at the age of 92, having donated all his life savings to the Putuo Shan Buddhist Association, with over 200 million RMB.

   Zhuge Changqing: The great monk Miao Shan rebuilt Putuo Mountain, rescued the living beings and propagated the Buddha's teachings with immense merit and virtue.

   The four wooden carvings on either side of the Hall of Merit are the stories of the four famous legends of Putuo Mountain, 6 metres long and 1.6 metres high, made from imported teak wood by a wood carver from Dongyang, Zhejiang Province. The four stories are: Short Nun's Victory, Two Turtles Listening to the Dharma, Flying Sand Reclamation and Blue Gong Protecting the Dharma (story omitted). There are also two jade carvings of the moon at night in the lotus pond (Puji Temple's release pond) and the sun rising in the sun (Baibu Sha).

    References for this article: Baidu, "The richest man in Putuo", for providing the commentary.

普陀山，四大佛教名山之一，是观音菩萨道场。

----- 诸葛长青

   普陀山是大慈大悲观世音菩萨道场之一。

   普陀山与“山西五台山文殊菩萨道场、四川峨眉山普贤菩萨道场、安徽九华山地藏王菩萨道场”，并称为中国四大佛教名山。

   唐以后，历代帝王多次赐金扩建普陀山寺院，倡导观音文化。

  公元967年，宋太祖赵匡胤首次钦派人到普陀山贡香幡，开了朝廷供奉先河。宋元丰三年（公元1080年），朝廷赐匾“宝陀观音寺”。 

   公元1214年，宋宁宗赵扩又赐匾额“圆通宝殿”，钦定普陀山为专供观音菩萨的地方。并根据佛经“补怛洛迦”，更山名为普陀洛迦山，也称为补陀洛迦山。由此，普陀山成为中国四大菩萨道场之一。

   诸葛长青：有缘者如果有旅游的机会，可以去参拜观音菩萨。

   今天，诸葛长青把普陀山的旅游解说词整理之后，分享给有缘者。

   这个旅游词来自百度网络资料以及有缘者“普陀首富”提供的解说词，在此表示感谢 。

    诸葛长青：如果你想去普陀山，看了这个导游解说词之后，就会有基本的了解。

    普陀山基本介绍：

    1、普陀山是著名的观音道场，与五台山、峨眉山、九华山并称为佛教四大名山。它位于浙江省东部，是舟山群岛中的一个小岛，全岛面积12.5平方公里，形似苍龙卧海，素有"海天佛国"、"南海圣境" 之称。
    2、唐咸通年间，日本僧人慧锷大师从五台山请观音像乘船归国，乘船行至普陀山附近的莲花洋时，因为风浪所阻，触礁，以为观音不肯东渡，于是便在潮音洞上岸，建"不肯去观音院"，成为普陀佛教开山之起始。后历代皇帝拨币累建，全盛时期，曾有3大寺，88庵院，128茅蓬，僧尼达4000余人。
    3、每年农历二月十九（观音诞辰日）、六月十九（观音得道日）、九月十九（观音出家日），四方信众聚缘佛国，普陀山香烟燎绕、烛火辉煌；诵经礼佛，通宵达旦，其盛况令人叹为观止。每逢佛事，信众求拜，时有天象显祥，更增添了普陀山的神奇、神圣、神秘的色彩。绵延千余年的佛事活动，使普陀山这方钟灵毓秀之净土，积淀了深厚的佛教文化底蕴。观音大士结缘四海，"人人阿弥陀，户户观世音"，观音信仰已被学者称为"半个亚洲的信仰。"
    4、有人曾经对普陀山的美景作出这样的评价："以山而兼湖之胜，则推西湖；以山而兼海之胜，当推普陀。"普陀山四面环海，风光旖旎，作为四大佛教名山中唯一坐落于海上的佛教胜地，被誉为"第一人间清净地"。除了充满佛国神秘色彩的寺塔摩崖、山石林木以外，岛上林木丰茂、鸟语花香，不仅有树龄近千年的古樟树，还有我国特有的普陀鹅耳枥。而岛四周白浪环绕、渔帆竞发，银涛金沙环绕着青翠的峰峦、幽静的古刹精舍，构成了一幅绚丽多姿的画卷。
     5、主要景点有三大寺：普济禅寺、法雨禅寺、慧济禅寺。

    6、普陀山的标志南海观音大铜像、紫竹林，还有以自然景观和寺庙相结合的西天景区。每到夏日来临，来普避暑的游客纷纷聚集到浙江省第一个海滨浴场一百步沙，使普陀山又增加了一道亮丽的景观。  

   "海上有仙山，山在虚无缥渺间"。普陀山以其观音道场的神圣地位，以及优美的自然风景，成为驰誉中外的旅游胜地。相信您也已经迫不及待地想踏上这次朝圣之旅了，现在就请带上我们精心为您打造的普陀山游览攻略，以及景点导游词，随我一同走进这海天佛国吧。

    一、普陀山三大寺庙之一：普济寺

   诸葛长青认为：普济寺 = 佛法普度众生、救济众生。到了这个寺庙要思考，自己如何为造福社会、救助苍生做一些贡献。
   我们现在来到的是普陀山的第一大寺--普济寺。普济寺又名"前寺"。
    1、历史来由。它的前身是有名的"不肯去观音院"。宋嘉定七年，皇帝御书"圆通宝殿"匾额，把这里定为专供观音的寺院。后来这里多次被毁，到了明神宗万历三十三年，朝廷派太监张千扩建宝陀观音寺，并赐额"护国永寿普陀禅寺"，寺院规模宏大，一时甲于东南。康熙三十八年，赐额"普济群灵"，到了雍正年间，基本形成了现在的规模，如今的普济寺，共有十殿、十二楼、七堂、七轩等共231间。
    普济寺前有一个高约20米的石牌坊，四柱三门，柱上横眉雕刻有精致的云绫和石葫芦。坊内北侧，树有一块石牌，写着"文武官员军民人等到此下马"。据传这是皇帝下达的圣旨，过去官吏到此，文官下轿，武官下马，以示对观音菩萨的崇敬。
    2、莲花"海印池"。石牌坊后是一个约15亩的莲池，名叫"海印池"，也叫"放生池"，建于明朝。"海印"是指佛的智慧能像大海一样，印现一切之法，而"放生"，则是与佛教的"慈悲"、"不杀生"等教义融合，进而发展成为的一种普遍的佛事活动。

    诸葛长青认为，观音菩萨用“海印池”启迪众生做人要勤奋学习、思考顿悟，用智慧走好人生的每一步。用“放生池”启迪众生，戒杀放生、吃素行善，可以积累极大福报。
    海印池上有三座桥，走过中间的一座，您便可以来到御碑亭，它建于雍正年间，御碑的碑文上记载了普陀山的历史，碑额上雕龙栩栩如生，书法遒劲刚健，可谓双绝。当然，要是您感兴趣的话，还可以到东面的"观自在菩萨"墙看看，相传观音菩萨除了有大慈大悲的心肠外,还有广大的智慧可以看清世间万物,所以有时被称作"观世音",指她能听到人民的疾苦声音，有时又被称为"观自在",是指她体察世间万物的能力。
    3、山门传说。当您来到寺前肯定会奇怪的问："寺庙的正门关着，怎么进去呢？"这里还有一个故事。相传乾隆皇帝夜游普陀山竟然忘了回去，当他返回到普济寺的时候寺院大门已经关了，他要求开门却遭到了拒绝。把门的小和尚说："国有国法，寺有寺规"，乾隆没有办法只能从东山门进入寺内。乾隆回宫后对此极为恼怒，下了圣旨：从今以后，此门不能开。这也就延续到了现在，只有在国家元首、寺院菩萨开光或者方丈第一次进门时才能打开，平时的游客们就只能从旁边的侧门进入了。
     4、天王殿、圆通殿。经过供奉着弥勒佛的天王殿，我们便可来到普济寺中供奉观音菩萨的主殿--大圆通殿。

   圆通殿堂面宽七间进六间，宏大巍峨，可容数千人，有"百人共进不觉宽，千人共登不觉挤"的说法，于是也被称为"活大殿"。走进大殿，可以看到正中供奉的一座毗卢观音像，高约九米，头戴毗卢天冠，天冠上有阿弥陀佛像，眉慈目善，慈祥含笑，身边还站立着善财和龙女，神态天真活泼。
   诸葛长青：这座观音殿叫做"圆通殿"，正是因为观音只要听到苦难的呼救声，便能眼观，表示"耳根通，即眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意六根通"。于是"圆通"便成为了观音的代名词，其意是"不偏倚，无阻碍"，圆满通达。也提醒人们处理问题要圆满通达。
   在中国，观音菩萨可谓家喻户晓，妇孺皆知。据佛经记载，遇到危难时只要念诵其名号，菩萨就能听到，并前往拯救解脱，所以叫做"观世音"。唐时因避唐太宗李世民的讳，略去「世」字，简称「观音」，沿用至今。对大多数老百姓来说，不一定知道佛教的创始人释迦牟尼佛，但却很少有人不知道观音菩萨，观音实际上已成为民间佛教乃至整个民间宗教信仰的核心人物。
   而我们眼前的这座观音殿为什么叫做"圆通殿"呢？其实啊，正是因为观音只要听到苦难的呼救声，便能眼观，表示"耳根通，即眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意六根通"。于是"圆通"便成为了观音的代名词，其意是"不偏倚，无阻碍"，圆满通达。
    毗卢观音两旁还各塑有16尊不同服饰和形态的观音菩萨，称为"观音三十二应身"，这些都是观音以不同身份教化世人的现身说法形象。三十二应身观音只能以整体形式供奉，不能单独出现，加上中间供奉的观音佛身，这种塑法也正是观音道场的独特之处。
    主殿两边还各有一个配殿，东配殿供奉文殊菩萨，西配殿供奉普贤菩萨，另外在法堂中还建有地藏殿，供奉地藏菩萨。
    5、多宝塔。游览完普济寺的大小殿堂，您还可以到位于其东南的"多宝塔"看看。多宝塔建于元朝，是由普陀山僧人从江南带回的太湖石堆砌而成，取《法华经》中的"多宝佛塔"之义定名。塔的外观朴拙，稳重端庄，不像中国传统的塔玲珑小巧，每层塔的四面都雕有佛龛，里边供奉着全跏趺坐式佛像，属于古代蒙古族统治者信仰的佛教密宗造型，极富元代风格。据考察，这样的塔在中国只有两座，另一座在洛阳龙门石窟，所以它也有很高的文物价值。
   多宝塔东面，就是普陀山著名的海滨浴场百步沙，这里沙质纯净、滩形优美，浪花连绵不绝，时间充裕的话你不妨前去感受一番。
   二、普陀山三大寺庙之二：慧济寺
   亲爱的朋友，现在您来到的就是普陀山的最高处--佛顶山了。这里又叫做"菩萨顶"，是信徒们顶礼膜拜的圣地，此外，由于其独特的地理位置，有时在这儿还可以欣赏到罕见的海市蜃楼和佛光景象，所以历来也有"不上佛顶，等于未到普陀山"的说法。
   1、慧济寺来由。为什么叫慧济寺？

 诸葛长青认为：慧济寺 = 用智慧普济众生，使终生开悟智慧。这个寺庙也提醒有缘者，要用自己的智慧度化有缘人。

   佛顶山上的慧济寺是普陀山最高的寺院，它雄踞山巅，倚天面海，仙云缭绕，风光壮阔，但因为建于山谷之间，占地面积有限，所以慧济寺的布局便以天王殿和大雄宝殿为短轴线，向两侧作不完全对称地展开，左右殿堂、钟楼、厢房等建筑，均以游廊相接，加之中间的天井，便组成多个院落。尤其是东院新建的汉白玉荷花池，雕栏玉砌，水亭曲桥，别有一番江南园林的风味。
   2、慧济寺的主殿--大雄宝殿中，供奉着佛祖释迦牟尼和他的两位弟子阿难与迦叶。在主殿中供奉佛祖，与普陀山中其他寺院主殿供奉观音菩萨不同。原来啊，在山顶供奉佛祖而不是观音菩萨，暗示了佛祖至高无上的地位，即使在观音菩萨的道场，也是不能例外的。
   3、护法诸天。大殿两侧的厢房里，塑有"二十诸天"，简单点讲呢,他们是佛教的护法神。佛教认为，佛陀济世传播佛法之时，如果没有得力的护法人，则会佛道陨落，所以佛国中才有许多的护法天神存在。他们都具有非凡的神通能力.可以帮助佛陀传法，也可以震慑那些危害佛法的人。

   诸葛长青：凡是到寺庙、道观、名人景点，都有护法神保护。大家要记住，必须保持恭敬心，切忌说不文明的话、不尊敬的话，否则，护法神绝对会进行惩罚的。
   但是佛教的护法神可不仅仅是这二十诸天,而是一支庞大的队伍,这支队伍的名字叫做"天龙八部"，代表了八支部队,其中天部和龙部是最为重要的，而我们面前的二十诸天，就属于"天部"。为了表示这些护法天神对佛祖的尊敬，他们的姿态都是往前倾斜15度的，除了普陀山慧济寺以外，塑有这二十诸天的寺庙还有杭州的灵隐寺、北京大慧寺、以及大同的华严寺等。
    4、观音殿。当然，作为观音菩萨道场普陀山的三大寺庙之一，慧济寺也有专门供奉观音菩萨的殿堂，叫做"观音殿"，与其他寺庙的观音殿不同，这儿除了供奉有一尊2.7米高的观音菩萨像以外，四壁还镶嵌着总共100多尊线刻观音像，汇集了唐、宋、元、明、清五朝名家的绘画杰作，这些珍贵的观音宝像石刻，也是慧济寺重要的文物珍品。
    慧济寺后门，有一株"普陀鹅耳枥（lì）"，据说它最早是古代一位缅甸僧人来普陀山朝拜时带来的，树高13米多,从地表处开始分两叉，往上分叉均一分为二,很有规则，并且雌雄同株，每年五月开花，十月中旬果子成熟。但因为其繁殖率极低，在其原产地缅甸早已绝迹，属世所稀有。因此它也就成了普陀的象征，成了佛界的菩提。
   要是您对普陀山的其它珍贵植物感兴趣的话，不妨再到寺后坡下的新姜子木看看，这是一种仅见于浙江的珍稀树种，被誉为"佛光树"，每当春季农历二月十九观音诞辰之日，它的嫩梢枝叶上就披上金黄色的绒毛，在阳光里熠熠闪光，好像一个报春的使者，为海天佛国增光添彩。
    5、远眺洛迦山。从慧济寺出来，您还可以站在海拔300多米的佛顶山上远眺壮阔的海景，要是天气晴朗的话，可以看到舟山群岛中大大小小的岛屿像一朵朵莲花般点缀在中国东海之中，在这些群岛中，最著名的就是不远处的洛迦山。您看，洛迦山的形状像不像一尊慈眉善目的观音菩萨安详地躺在海面之上呢？要是仔细辨认的话，还可以分辨出她的头、颈、胸、足等等，所以它也被人们称为"睡观音"或"海上卧佛"。据说，观音当年就是在洛迦山修炼得道后，飘洋过海来到普陀山开辟了道场，所以不少前来普陀山的虔诚信徒都会乘船去洛迦山朝拜一番。
   三、普陀山三大寺庙之三：法雨寺。
   往南步行下山前往法雨寺，途中可以欣赏到不少石刻，其中刻在一块巨岩之上的"海天佛国"四个大字最为有名，传说是出自明代抗倭名将侯继高的手笔，已经成为了普陀山的一大代表性景观。
   法雨寺是普陀山的第二大寺，因为其位于第一大寺普济寺的山后，所以又叫做"后寺"。
   1、法雨寺来历。佛家认为，佛法滋润众生，就好像雨水泽被万物，于是有了"法雨"的说法。法雨寺最初建于明朝万历年间，经历多次劫难，到康熙三十八年的时候，皇帝御书赐额"天华法雨"，因此定名为"法雨禅寺"，雍正皇帝时又进行了大规模的扩修，法雨寺也就因其殿堂楼阁规模宏大，雕梁画栋，而成为了东南名刹。

   诸葛长青：这个寺庙也提醒有缘者，人生一世要积极弘扬佛法、道法、儒法，使好的经典方法，像雨水一样普及天下万物生灵。
   远观法雨寺，您会发现，在建筑布局上，它采用了依山取势、分群递升的方法，几座殿堂在台基上逐级升高，气势不凡。整个寺院用天蓝、淡绿、鹅黄、紫红等色的琉璃瓦盖顶，在阳光的照射下映射出万道彩光，形成"佛光普照"的奇丽景象，远远望去，更是给人空中宫阙之感。清末康有为曾写下"锦屏临海浪，法雨飞天花"来刻画法雨寺的山海胜景。
    2、莲池。想要走进法雨寺的佛堂，首先得经过寺前的莲池，它面积约1800平方米，为清朝光绪十八年建造，这里所产的莲子，历史上曾经作为贡品，由杭州织造府进贡给朝廷。莲池上有一座单孔石拱桥，叫做海会桥，"海会"的意思是指诸佛菩萨聚会在一起，其德行之深、数量之多就像广阔深邃的大海一样。海会桥将池塘分割为东西两潭，两侧栏板的双面浮雕上有各种戏剧故事、飞禽走兽等图案50多幅，雕刻精致，为普陀山石刻中的精品。
    3、九龙壁。走过莲池，我们首先来看看九龙照墙，这是1987年新建的一个景点，这面九龙壁高两米，全长12米，下盘为须弥座，四边及顶端飞檐翘角，上部的石梁、石瓦间雕有十七条造型各异的小龙，而中间石板上的九条青龙昂首舞爪，争抢龙珠、栩栩如生。乍一看去，它好像是由一整块青石雕刻而成，但要是您足够仔细的话，会发现，它竟然是用60块70厘米见方的优质青石精雕细刻拼接而成，拼接处严丝合缝，不露痕迹，不得不让人赞叹其工艺的精湛。
    4、玉佛殿。欣赏完九龙壁，我们经天王殿到法雨寺的第二层--玉佛殿参观，它的得名，是由于当初这里供奉着一尊清朝末年从缅甸请来的白玉释迦牟尼像，可惜在文化大革命中被毁，现在供奉的这尊佛像，是1985年从北京永乐宫请来的。玉佛殿后面的月台栏杆上，刻有"二十四孝"图，是雍正年间雕刻而成的，图中的24位孝子，上至帝王、下至百姓，体现了中华民族敬老养老的传统美德，也是佛教与儒家学说融为一体的见证。

    5、九龙宝殿。接下来我们来看看法雨寺最著名的"九龙宝殿"。据《普陀山志》记载，康熙三十八年三月，皇帝南巡到了杭州，接见法雨寺的主持，并且下发了"拆金陵旧殿以赐"的圣旨，于是从南京明朝宫殿中拆下12万张琉璃瓦送到普陀山，建成了颇具皇家气派的九龙殿。
     而其中最具特色的就是九龙藻井，这可是明代留存下来的文物，抬头往上，可以看到藻井下悬着一颗大珠球，一龙盘顶，四周有八龙环八柱，就像是要来抢夺这颗宝珠，构成了"九龙戏珠"的图案，形态逼真、巧夺天工。据说这九龙藻井还有防火的作用，因为龙能吐水，而藻井的形状是可以将水聚集起来的，所以要是供奉的香火不慎点燃了佛前的经幡，殿上的九龙就会吐水灭火，因此，这九龙藻井就成了普陀山的镇山之宝。
    殿中供奉着10米高的毗卢观音像，所以这里又称"九龙观音殿"。观音像两侧还供奉有十八位苦行中的罗汉像，而在殿内另一边还有一副场面壮观的《海岛观音图》。画面正中，慈目善眉的观音菩萨站在一条庞大的鳌鱼背上，一手拿着净瓶，一手拿着杨柳枝向外挥洒，菩萨手中的净水瓶和杨柳枝，原本是普洒法雨、弘扬佛法的意思，后来演变为多种含义。人们认为，杨柳枝可以消灾除病，净瓶中的甘露随杨柳枝洒遍大千世界，暗喻着慈悲的观音用净水来普渡众生脱离苦海，到达彼岸的极乐世界。这幅画中还有天庭、龙宫等建筑，整个画面布局合理、人物众多、惟妙惟肖，感兴趣的话您不妨仔细看看。[/
  

 四、紫竹林（诸葛长青：紫竹林，代表观音菩萨）
  当您看到眼前的这片茂密的紫竹以及同样为紫色的石头时，我们就来到紫竹林景区了，您也许觉得"紫竹林"这个名气非常耳熟吧？看过《西游记》的朋友应该都记得，紫竹林就是观世音菩萨的住所，唐僧师徒在取经路上好几次遇到危难，孙悟空都是翻筋斗到南海紫竹林求助的观音大士。
   1、"听潮庵"。紫竹林中有一座始建于明朝的紫竹林禅院，因为建在海边，涛声阵阵，所以最初也叫"听潮庵"，民国八年即公元1919年，康有为为这里题写了"紫竹林禅院"的匾额，禅院内供奉着"紫竹观音"坐像，是普陀山重要的历史文化景点之一。
   往海边走，您可以看到前面的一块石碑上，刻着"禁止舍身燃指处"，是明代万历年间官府所设。原来，过去许多善男信女到普陀山朝拜时，为表虔诚，在自己的手指上缠上棉花，沾上烛油点燃，作为香烛，希望能求见观音现身，引渡自己到西方极乐世界去。明朝驻当地的一位督军觉得这种做法有违佛家慈悲为怀、普渡众生的本意，便颁令禁止并立此碑，言明如果再有人这样做，就一定要缉办。从此，这种风气才慢慢被禁止下来。随着历史的变迁，石碑上的裂纹随处可见，碑文也有些残缺不全了。
   2、不肯去观音院。石碑旁边有一堵黄色矮墙围着三间朴质的佛堂，这就是普陀山著名的"不肯去观音院"，相传在唐咸通年间，日本僧人慧锷大师从五台山请得观音像乘船归国，经过普陀莲花洋的时候，突然风浪大作，海洋中涌现无数铁莲花（今称莲花洋）。挡住航道，使船不能前进。如此三日三夜，船无法开出，只能绕着普陀山四周打转转。

  慧锷见此奇异，当即跪在圣像前面求忏悔说：大士，弟子因菩萨圣像庄严，我国佛法未遍，圣像少见，所以想请圣像回国供养。如果因我是不与而取的，或我国众生无缘供养，弟子就在此地建立精舍，供养圣像。慧锷忏悔完毕，船飞速的驶到潮音洞边，安然停下。

  慧锷登山后，在潮音洞附近，找到一家渔民的茅舍，见舍主张翁说明来意。张翁欢喜异常地说：菩萨愿意住在这个荒山孤岛，说明与我们太有缘了。就请师父和菩萨一并住在这里。我把房子让出来筑庵供奉菩萨，将全山民众招集起来参拜菩萨。慧锷因此也就不回日本，在山筑庵安住。民众称此庵为“不肯去观音院”慧锷就成为普陀山第一代开山祖师。

  从此普陀山成为我国著名的观世音菩萨道场，而大慈大悲救苦救难广大灵感观世音菩萨，便成为家喻户晓的大菩萨了。

   3、礼佛广场。往南走，便可以来到礼佛广场，参观普陀山近年来新建的标志性佛教建筑"南海观音铜像"，铜像前有一对花岗岩巨狮，每只重约7吨，而这四尊金刚力士，高3.9米，也是用花岗岩雕刻而成，威武庄严，镇守佛门。
   站在广场上，抬头瞻仰南海观音的大悲妙相，要是遇上晴朗的日子，在蓝天白云的衬托下，观音宝相更像是轻移莲步朝我们走来，让人顿生膜拜之心。这尊大佛身高18米，莲花座高2米，总重量为70吨，仅佛面就重1.42吨，含纯金6.5公斤。整座铜像由96块亚金铜壁板拼装而成，并用打磨抛光法将焊缝处磨得天衣无缝，其精湛工艺令人叫绝。
   据说在1997年九月观音像开光的那天，原本乌云密布，早晨8点妙善法师宣布开光时，铜像上方天空顿时乌云散开，佛光普照，在场的4000多位海内外信众亲眼目睹这一盛况，无不惊叹。
   如果您感兴趣，还可以到铜像基座处的五百观音堂以及功德厅参观，五百观音堂中供奉着500尊各式妙相的观音圣像，而功德厅中的壁画精雕细刻，栩栩如生，不仅向我们展示了其高超的雕刻工艺，还体现了普陀山佛教文化的深厚内涵。
   五、南海观音景点。现在我们要参观的是普陀山最新建成的南海观音景点，现在请大家随我进去参观。
   （检票口——上台阶前）
   1、青石板三步一块。（诸葛长青：象征三步一拜。）大家请看，我们脚下的大理石路中间很规律地铺有青石板，每块青石板上都雕有莲花。莲花是佛教的吉祥物，它有一个特性：“出淤泥而不染，濯清莲而不妖”象征我们佛教来源于尘世又高于尘世。青石板每三步一块，正好可以让进香朝圣的信众三步一拜。
   请大家看左手边的栏杆，也是用青石雕成，每一块青石板的正反两面皆有雕刻佛教小故事，一共60幅关于佛教的放生图。表明我们人和动物之间是有感情的，动物们也是知恩图报的，体现了佛教所说的忌杀生、多放生的思想。这些诗词皆是李叔同写的，画则出自于我国著名书画家丰子恺的手笔。
   （走完大理石路，上台阶）
   2、33级台阶的含义。现在我们要上台阶了，请大家猜一下共有多少个台阶？（随客人猜，然后让大家自己步行上去验证）
   这里一共有33个台阶，这33个台阶可不是随便乱凑的，它有多层含义在里面。
   其一、岛上每年农历的二月十九（观音出生日）、六月十九（观音得道日）、九月十九（观音出家日）是观音的三大香会期；
   其二、三六九是佛教的吉祥数字，三加三合六，三乘三得九；
   其三、观音的正殿——圆通宝殿（普济寺内）供奉着观音的正身像，加两边的32化身，正好是33尊；
   其四、普陀山环岛一周是33公里（巧合）。
   3、观音铜像。
   到礼佛广场，左手边有块石碑，上书《华严经》其中有段“勇猛丈夫观自在，为利众生住此山。”客人会问：观音明明是女儿身，怎么是勇猛丈夫？

   诸葛长青：勇猛丈夫---体现的是金刚不乱之心，观音菩萨属于大自在，可以随时变化教化众生。
    各位团友，现在正对着我们的就是普陀山标志性建筑——南海观音。像高18米，重约72吨，脚底莲花台高2米，直径8米，底下两层功德厅高13米，三部分加起来共33米（33米的解释前面已有，分成三部分是因为每年有三大香会期）。于97年农历九月十九动工，99年的农历九月廿九（避香会期高峰，又是药师佛诞）开光（开光显灵故事略），共用了96块1厘米厚的亚金铜合金，从洛阳铜加工厂水运至普陀山现场焊接后抛光打磨而成，用X光线透视无裂缝后再在其外侧加涂一层树脂漆以防腐蚀。观音脸部是第97块，融合了13斤纯黄金，重约2吨，是最大最重的一块。
   观音像微微朝前倾斜15度，衣袂飘扬，左手持法轮，右手施大无畏印，这是漂海观音的造像。请大家仔细观察：观音手中的法轮像什么东西？（客人回答）对！是渔民船上的方向盘——舵。大家请看（手指过去）对面就是全国有名的沈家门渔港，当地很多百姓打渔为生，靠天吃饭。舟山夏天多台风，古时渔民出海捕鱼碰到天气不好通常都是有去无回，所以他们把对生活及收成的希望全寄托在观音身上。观音把舵稳稳地托在手心，施大无畏印，表示她为渔民出海捕渔保驾护航，一切灾难皆可消除。再看：南海观音前面的水道就是渔民出海捕渔的必经之路，通常渔民经过此地，都会跪下来朝观音敬三支香拜三拜后插在船头，保佑他们这趟出海平安并且满载而归。
   （回过头来看）观音的脸部呈满月型，这是唐朝观音的审美，眉如柳叶，双目低垂。据说观音两眼睁开也是有规定的，约15度左右，睁太大或太小都不行。有两层含义：一是观音慈悲为怀，慈目视众生，她怀着一颗慈悲心来看我们世间的一切有情；二是观音她不同于我们凡人，我们只有在离她很近的时候，虔诚地仰起头，才能与她双目对视，也表示她跟我们凡人很亲近，没有距离感，你有什么烦心事都可以跟她讲，你看她双唇紧闭，她听后也绝对不会告诉第三个人。
   大家有没有发现佛、菩萨、罗汉的耳朵都特别长，这是在告诫我们，平时要多听——即不能听一方意见，要广泛地听多方面意见；多看，少说话，多做事。

  诸葛长青：佛、菩萨、罗汉的耳朵都特别长，一是福报大的感应；二是告诫我们，平时要多听、多看，少说话、多做事。
   4、大型石雕。大家请看观音铜像的右侧，即西边，有大型石雕《玄奘取经》；东边则有《鉴真东渡》，两幅石雕连环画把我们佛教历史上有名的两位人物和史实都展现在我们眼前。我们在广场上欣赏到了铜雕、石雕，现在请大家随我到功德厅参观木雕和玉雕。    

   5、功德厅。我在进功德厅之前，大家请看中间那扇圆拱门上有两个金色的三角，能猜到是什么含义吗？（一般客人是非常聪明的）对了，就是双手合什！我们要双手合什，恭恭敬敬地进去参观。
   我们面前的这根大柱子可是顶梁柱，直径达13米，除了承托观音像的重量外，还能抗12级以上台风和7级地震，其外围为了美观用紫铜做成壁画，为了防腐又加上3CM厚的玻璃罩。紫铜的东南西三面雕塑的是观音十方世界说法图，北面雕塑的是普陀山首任全山方丈妙善大和尚，89年被选为首任方丈后，用十年时间（当时文革刚结束）恢复普陀山的建筑，并在海内外尤其是东南亚享有盛誉实在不容易。南海观音是他倡建的 [因当时全国佛教协会会长赵朴初（生前与妙老是好朋友）曾有个愿望：在祖国的东西南北中，用五个露天佛像来保佑中国风调雨顺、国泰民安！
   这五尊露天佛像分别是：（东）普陀山南海观音，（南）海南南山观音，（西）四川乐山大佛，（北）辽宁千山大佛，（中）无锡灵山大佛。]

   诸葛长青：五大佛菩萨保佑中华。

   除此之外妙善大和尚还有三大功德，分别是：杨枝庵——给山上年老的师父养老用；佛学院——全国佛教精品寺院隐秀庵；普济医院——本着救死扶伤的精神，为岛上百姓及香游客提供医疗服务。免挂号费门诊费，药品按成本价供应，检查费用是国家标准定价的一半。这四个功德都被雕在妙老铜像的周围，妙老于2002年2月26日圆寂，92岁高龄，他把自己一生所有的积蓄全部捐给了普陀山佛教协会，有2亿多人民币。

   诸葛长青：妙善大和尚重建普陀山，救助苍生，弘扬佛法，功德无量。
   功德厅的两边的四幅木雕分别是普陀山四大名间传说故事，长6米高1.6米，选用进口柚木，请浙江东阳的木雕师傅做的，四个故事分别是：短姑胜迹、二龟听法、飞沙填海、蓝公护法（故事略）。还有两副玉雕分别是：莲池夜月（普济寺放生池）、朝阳涌日（百步沙）。

    本文参考资料：百度网络资料、“普陀首富”提供解说词，在此表示感谢。

What are the acts of abstaining from killing and releasing

 戒杀与放生的行为包括哪些

 1. Do not kill a living being with your own hands.

　　2. Do not abet others to kill.

　　3. Do not help others to kill.

　　4. Abstain from eating meat.

　　5. Do not engage in trades related to killing.

　　6、Whenever there is worship, regardless of what is being worshipped, use vegetarian dishes, flowers and fruit, not animal gifts.

　　7. If you see someone killing a human being, you should discourage them or buy the animal to be slaughtered with money and release it. If this does not work, or if the person does not sell the animal, then you should have compassion for the slaughtered animal, and even better if you can recite the Buddha's name or mantra for it.

　　8. Do not abuse the animal.

　　9、Other actions that are contrary to killing.

　　10. Abstain from killing and releasing animals yourself, and advise others to do the same. 

   1、不亲手杀生。

　　2、不教唆别人杀生。

　　3、不帮助别人杀生。

　　4、戒除肉食。

　　5、不从事与杀生有关的行业。

　　6、凡有祭拜，不管拜的是什么，一律用素菜、鲜花、水果，不用牲礼。

　　7、见人杀生，应加劝阻，或用钱将临宰之动物买而放之。若劝阻无效，或他不卖，则应对被杀之动物起同情心，若能为它念佛号或往生咒更好。

　　8、不虐待动物。

　　9、其他与杀生行为相反之行为。

　　10、自己戒杀放生，也劝别人戒杀放生。 

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

Selected Articles in Previous Periods

Click the article title to view

往期精选文章

点击文章标题查看

1The wisdom of traditional Chinese culture changes the destiny: filial piety to parents+five in one+self-improvement

1 国学智慧改命运：孝敬父母+五合一+自强不息

2Zhuge Changqing's Three Golden Keys to Changing Destiny

2诸葛长青改命运三把金钥匙诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

3Zhuge Changqing's Greeting Ritual (15 Steps Concise Version)

3 诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

4How to repent: the ritual of repentance and the method of repentance (full version)

4   如何忏悔：忏悔仪轨忏悔方法（完整版）

5How to read the Dizang Sutra: Methods for reciting Dizang Sutra (complete version)

5 如何念地藏经：念地藏经仪轨方法（完整版）

6How to release? The ritual of releasing life

6怎样放生？放生仪轨

7Zhuge Changqing's Repentance Culture: A Case Study of Repentance Methods for Changing Destiny

7诸葛长青忏悔文化：改变命运忏悔方法案例

8Free Life Culture: Free Life Culture in Ancient China

8放生文化：中国古代的放生文化

9Shocking photo of feeding: Buddha, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector come to the scene

9施食震撼照片：佛菩萨护法神亲临现场

10Feeding Rite Return: the return is changed to simple return

10施食仪轨回向：回向修改为简洁回向