Imperial Bestowal Stele: The Maitreya Connection in a Ming Dynasty Inscription
The "Imperial Bestowal Stele," whose full name is the "Stele Inscription on the Reconstruction of the Golden Summit of Fanjingshan by Imperial Bestowal," was erected by imperial order during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and stands below the Old Golden Summit. The stele is 2.9 meters tall, with the two characters "Imperial Bestowal" carved vertically at the top, flanked by soaring dragons in attendance and crowned with colored clouds; the inscription is entirely in regular script and runs to 1,349 characters. The text specifically records the connection between Maitreya and Fanjingshan, and describes the mountain as "a boundless realm of Dharma, a paradise of ultimate bliss."
For visitors preparing to climb the mountain, this stele is a key point for understanding the cultural threads of Fanjingshan. It stands below the Old Golden Summit and can be seen along the way up; reading the account of the Maitreya connection recorded in the inscription, then continuing upward, will give you a deeper appreciation of the origins of the halls around the Golden Summit.
Cheng'en Temple and the Golden Summit Halls: Cultural Landmarks Above the Peak
Cheng'en Temple is built on the very summit, overlooking a deep valley, with a sweeping view of a hundred li of wind and clouds in every direction. The plaque above the main hall bears the words "Cheng'en Temple by Imperial Bestowal," making it an important cultural landmark on the climb. On the Golden Summit itself stand the Shakyamuni Hall and the Maitreya Hall, first built in the Ming Dynasty, with the Shakyamuni Hall on the left and the Maitreya Hall on the right, connected by a stone bridge spanning the gorge between them.
Fanjingshan has been a famous Buddhist mountain since ancient times and is traditionally regarded as the bodhimanda of Maitreya Bodhisattva. The temples nestled against the terrain are an important vehicle of Buddhist culture; the cliff carvings and steles record the historical evolution and cultural threads of this famous mountain. Temples were built in many eras, numbering in the hundreds, among which the Four Great Imperial Monasteries and the Forty-Eight Foot Monasteries are the most renowned; Huguo Temple is one of the Four Great Imperial Monasteries. It is best to set out early rather than late when climbing to pay respects to the Buddha, and you can combine the cableway and walking to plan your itinerary.
Buddha's Halo and Mountain Tea Gardens: Where Nature and Culture Meet
On mornings or afternoons when the sky clears after rain, colorful rings of light sometimes appear in the mist opposite the sun, with a human figure at the center that moves as you move; under certain lighting, an enlarged projection may also appear in thick fog—the "phantom." This is a cultural and natural marvel arising from Fanjingshan's unique weather conditions, and wondrous "Buddha's halo" and "phantoms" can often be seen near the New and Old Golden Summits; the ancients regarded them as "manifestations of Maitreya."
Beyond climbing, you can also include the mountain tea gardens in your itinerary. The Fanjingshan area is high in altitude and often shrouded in mist, with a humid climate suited to growing tea; tea gardens stretch in continuous patches nearby, with a long-lasting fragrance. During the spring and autumn picking seasons, some tea gardens open for visits and hands-on experiences where you can learn about picking and processing tea; you can also sit quietly in a teahouse to savor a cup and listen to locals tell the story of tea. The tea gardens are mostly in the lower-altitude surrounding areas and can be worked into your itinerary along the way. When entering a tea garden, please stay on the open paths and do not pick or trample at will; specific opening and experience arrangements vary by season, so check online before you travel.
Visitor Tips: Protecting This Cultural Heritage
- When entering temples, please follow temple rules, dress appropriately, keep quiet, and respect religious activities.
- Before photographing halls and statues, please heed on-site notices; photography may not be permitted in some areas.
- Please do not climb on cultural relics or carve inscriptions; let us together protect these cultural treasures that have endured the years.
- Cultural sites in the mountains are mostly distributed along the trails and in summit areas; please stay within open areas while visiting.
- When buying tea, please use channels with clearly marked prices, buy according to your needs, and consume sensibly.