Dailuoding

Dailuoding is a Buddhist temple on Mount Wutai with five main buildings arranged along a central axis: the Paifang gate, the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Danchan Hall, the Manjushri Hall, and the Mahavira Hall. These structures form a clear architectural sequence that guides visitors from the entrance toward the inner sanctuaries.

The temple was originally founded as Foding'an during the Tang Dynasty and received its current name Dailuoding in 1750 under the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. This renaming marked a period of redesign and consolidation under Qing rule.

The five Manjushri statues in their dedicated hall are venerated by pilgrims and visitors as representations of different aspects of wisdom. They sit at the heart of religious practice here and show how the temple centers its devotion around this particular Bodhisattva.

The temple sits on Mount Wutai and can be reached by three different routes: climbing 1080 stone steps, taking a cable car, or traveling on horseback. Visitors should check their fitness level and weather conditions to choose the best way to arrive.

The Mahavira Hall displays eighteen Arhat statues flanking the central figures of Sakyamuni, Amitabha, and Bhaisajyaguru. This arrangement shows how different strands of Buddhist teaching are symbolized through the placement and attributes of these figures.