Tianmen Mountain Temple (天门山寺), located on the majestic Tianmen Mountain, has been a spiritual beacon in Western Hunan since its founding during the Ming Dynasty. As the region’s Buddhist center, the temple has long attracted a multitude of devoted believers, with its incense burning fervently throughout the centuries. The original temple faced north, with its entrance adorned by the grand inscription “天门仙山 Tianmen Fairy Mountain.” A pair of couplets flanked the gate, reading: “天外有天天不夜，山上无山山独尊 Beyond the sky, there is another sky; on this mountain, there is no other mountain.” The temple’s layout was impressive, featuring three courtyards and two main halls, with the Guanyin Hall situated at the rear. Towering ancient trees surrounded the temple, adding to its serene and timeless atmosphere. Unfortunately, after the Republican era, the old Tianmen Mountain Temple began to decline, leaving behind only remnants of its former glory.
Today, the Tianmen Mountain Temple has been meticulously restored on its original site, retaining its historical and spiritual significance. The reconstructed complex includes several key buildings: the Mahavira Hall, the Guanyin Pavilion, the Sutra Repository, and the Dharma Hall. Among these, the Guanyin Pavilion stands out for its unique and intricate design. The pavilion features a three-tiered structure with an additional two hidden levels, making its architecture comparable to some of China’s most renowned ancient towers. Nestled within a mountain hollow, the temple offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Gazing southeast, the mountain peaks seem small and distant, giving Tianmen Mountain an air of unrivaled grandeur.
On June 8, 2009, the newly renovated Tianmen Mountain Temple marked a significant event in its history. The solemn sound of ceremonial horns echoed across the mountains as the temple became the first in China’s Buddhist community to receive a sacred relic of Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, from Lumbini, his birthplace in Nepal. This event marked the first time a group of Chinese Buddhist leaders had traveled to Lumbini to welcome such a relic back to China.
The relics, known as Buddha’s relics, refer to the remains of Shakyamuni Buddha after his cremation. These relics are considered sacred by Buddhists worldwide. Over 2,500 years ago, after Shakyamuni’s passing, his disciples recovered several relics from his ashes, including a skull bone, two shoulder bones, four teeth, a finger bone, and 84,000 small pearl-like relics. These relics have been revered and venerated by followers ever since.
The Shakyamuni Buddha relic enshrined at Tianmen Mountain Temple is roughly the size of a soybean, with a lustrous ivory-white sheen. Alongside it are two other relics, belonging to two of Shakyamuni’s most prominent disciples, Mahamaudgalyayana and Sariputta. These sacred relics, now housed in Tianmen Mountain Temple, have elevated the temple’s spiritual status, making it a significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists and visitors alike.
The restoration and the enshrinement of these relics have revived the temple’s spiritual significance, drawing pilgrims and tourists from around the world to this serene mountain retreat. Tianmen Mountain Temple, with its rich history and profound religious importance, continues to be a place of worship, reflection, and cultural heritage, offering visitors a glimpse into the deep spiritual traditions of Buddhism in China.
