| Fanjingshan | |
|---|---|
 The "Red Cloud Golden Peak" (New Golden Peak) of Fanjingshan | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,570 m (8,430 ft) |
| Coordinates | 27°53′44″N108°40′48″E / 27.89555556°N 108.68°E /27.89555556; 108.68 |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Mountain of the Pure Land ofBrahma |
| Language of name | Chinese |
| Geography | |
| Official name | Fanjingshan |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | (x) |
| Designated | 2018(42ndsession) |
| Reference no. | 1559 |
| Region | Eastern Asia |
TheFanjingshan (Chinese:梵净山;pinyin:Fànjìngshān) orMount Fanjing, located inTongren,Guizhou province, is the highest peak of theWuling Mountains in southeasternChina, at an elevation of 2,570 m (8,430 ft). TheFanjingshan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978 and designated aUNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986. Fanjingshan is a sacred mountain inChinese Buddhism, considered to be thebodhimaṇḍa of theMaitreya Buddha. It became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 2018.[1]
The mountain's name "Fanjing" is an abbreviation ofFantian Jingtu (梵天净土), or "Brahma's Pure Land".Fantian is the Chinese name for theBuddhist heavenly kingBrahmā, andJingtu is Chinese for "pure land", the focus ofPure Land Buddhism.[2]
Fanjingshan is located inTongren, Guizhou Province in southeastern China. It is the highest peak of theWuling Mountains. The elevation of its terrain ranges from 480 to 2,570 meters (1,570–8,430 ft) above sea level.[3][4]
The Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978 and designated a UNESCOBiosphere Reserve in 1986.[3] The reserve covers a total area of 567 km2 (219 sq mi) and is a conservation area for primitive vegetation of the mid sub-tropic alpine region of eastern China.[3] The mountain was designated aWorld Heritage Site in July 2018.[4]
Fanjingshan's relative isolation has ensured a high degree of biodiversity. Endemic species such as the rareGuizhou golden monkey(Rhinopithecus brelichi) and the Fanjingshan fir(Abies fanjingshanensis) occur only in a small region centering on Fanjingshan.[3][4] Several endangered species, including theChinese giant salamander,forest musk deer, andReeve's pheasant are also found in Fanjingshan. It is also home to the largest and most contiguous subtropical primeval beech forest.[4]
Fanjingshan is considered a sacred mountain ofChinese Buddhism,[3] ranking just below theFour Sacred Mountains of Buddhism. It is considered thebodhimaṇḍa (ordaochang)—a spot in which one reached enlightenment—of theMaitreya Buddha.[2] The influence of Buddhism reached Fanjingshan by theTang dynasty at the latest, especially after Hou Hongren (侯弘仁) constructed the Zangke Road (牂牁道) in 639 AD, which facilitated transport in the mountainous region, and local gazettes record the construction of several temples in the area.[2] More temples were built during the ensuingSong andYuan dynasties.[2]
Buddhism greatly prospered during theMing andQing dynasties, when the cult of Tianguan Maitreya (天冠弥勒) became dominant in Fanjingshan. TheBozhou rebellion in the late 16th century caused great damages to Fanjingshan's temples. After suppressing the rebellion, theWanli Emperor ordered the monk Miaoxuan (妙玄) to rebuild the Golden Peak and the Cheng'en Temple (承恩寺). Many other temples were constructed in the area, ushering in the golden era for Buddhism in Fanjingshan.[2] Most temples during the Ming and Qing dynasties belonged to thePure Land and theLinji sects of Buddhism.[2]
In the turmoil that toppled the Qing dynasty, many temples were destroyed by marauding armies and bandits, and few monks remained in theRepublic of China era.[2] After further destructions during theCultural Revolution, Buddhism has enjoyed a renaissance since the 1980s. Many old temples have been rebuilt and new ones constructed, including the Cheng'en Temple, Huguo Chan Temple (护国禅寺), Great Golden Buddha Temple (大金佛寺), and Longquan Temple (龙泉寺).[2]
In 2010, the Fanjingshan Buddhist Cultural Park was opened, with a Golden Hall that houses a 5-metre-tall (16 ft) statue of theMaitreya Buddha made with 250 kg (550 lb) of gold and thousands of gems. It is said to be the largest gold Maitreya statue in the world.[2][5]
Asteroid215021 Fanjingshan, discovered by astronomers of thePMO NEO Survey Program in 2005, was named after the World Heritage Site.[1] The officialnaming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 8 November 2019 (M.P.C. 118221).[6]
A genus (Fanjingshania[7]) offossilchondrichthyan discovered in Guizhou Province was named after Fanjingshan mountain.
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