The pagoda forest is located in the north of Changping District, 50 kilometers from downtown Beijing. Here there are peaks, cliffs, boulders, and pitch-black rocks. It lies on a mountain, which is covered with silver-like snow in winter, hence the name “Silver Mountain”. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties it was one of the “eight greatest scenic spots of Beijing”. With 18 stupas remaining, it is a large scenic spot of historic interest.
The mountain used to be a famous Buddhist shrine in north China. As early as the Tang Dynasty it was the site for performing Buddhist rites, being rivaled by Gold Mountain in Jiangsu Province in south China. In the years of Yuanhe, eminent monk Deng Yinfeng gave lectures on Buddhism here. In the years of Tianhui in the Jin Dynasty, eminent monk Master Fojue arrived here to found Dayansheng Temple. Since then, the temple has been visited by numerous prominent monks; if anyone of them died here, a stupa would be built in his commemoration. Among the halls of the temple there are five brick stupas with closely set eaves, under which the holy relics of eminent monks of the Jin Dynasty are buried. In the middle is the stupa of Master Youguo Fojue; on the left, that of Master Huitang Youguo Fojue in the front and that of Master Xujing in the back; on the right, that of Master Yixing in the front and that of Master Yuantong in the back. Together with the temple structures they form a relatively concentrated pagoda forest. These stupas, in a beautiful, vigorous style, with exquisite brick carvings, are among the most precious of remaining ancient pagodas in China.
In the Yuan Dynasty and later dynasties, the temple was repeatedly enlarged and altered. In the 4th lunar month of 1429 (the 4th year of Xuande, in the Ming Dynasty), Wu Liang, a eunuch in charge of construction, donated a huge sum for the rebuilding of Dayansheng Temple. The work was completed in the 2nd lunar month in 1437 (the 2nd year of Zhengtong). In the same year, Emperor Yingzong conferred on it the name “Fahua Temple”. At that time, the temple was a complete complex made up of a main portal, five halls, a zendo (meditation room in a Buddhist monastery), an abbot's house, and a mess hall. In its vicinity there are a number of smaller temples known as “the 72 temples”.
Over four dynasties——Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing, many monks' tomb pagodas were built, most of which were Lama pagodas shaped like inversed bowls. Their sizes varied from about one meter to about a dozen meters. Some were built within the walls of the temple, while others were built somewhere else at the foot of the mountain. A folk saying goes that one can never count the pagodas on the Silver Mountain. One of them, shaped like a mushroom, stands on the platform where Deng Yinfeng gave lectures on the Buddhist doctrine. It is said to be capable of warding off evil spirits; besides, as the folklore goes, if you suffer from pain in the waist or legs, you may have it greatly relieved by turning round the pagoda three times clockwise and three times anti-clockwise. That is why tourists still turn around it today.
Apart from the ancient pagodas, the mountain keeps many other historic sites, such as the tree where a Buddhist master hung his clothes on, Ancient Buddha Rock, Great Tiger Rock, Rocky Cave; there are also such scenic spots as “three verdant peaks”, “sunset on eastern mountain”, and “moon reflection in cold spring”.
In 1941, passing the mountain on their way to the Anti-Japanese stronghold to the north of Peking, Japanese invaders demolished all the buildings in the temple, and damaged the pagodas. Since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, with donations from the government and other sources, some of the scenic spots have been restored.
Extending to about a hundred li, the Silver Mountain boasts of magnificent scenery. Three lofty summits stand out among the peaks. The peaks, slopes and valleys are completely covered with pines, cypresses, and large groves of oaks, pears, chestnuts, and walnuts. With a good environment, high negative ion level and fresh air, the mountain is an ideal place for pondering on the past, cultivating one's mind and temperament, exercising, and sightseeing. |
Asia Travel 
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