Mount Wutai became a holy place for Buddhism and had a major influence on the Buddhist circles at home and abroad since the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty was a critical period in the development history of Buddhism in Mount Wutai.
The Li Tang Dynasty raised troops in Taiyuan and conquered the world, so it regarded Mount Wutai as "the place where the ancestors cultivated their virtues." When Li Yuan rebelled against the Sui Dynasty, he made a great wish for Buddhism, saying that when he became emperor, he would promote the Three Treasures. In the second year of Wude (619), Li Yuan gathered eminent monks in the capital, established the Ten Great Virtues, and managed the affairs of monks and nuns. After Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty came to the throne, he revived the business of translating scriptures and made Parapokaromitra preside over it. He also liberated 3,000 monks and built monasteries in various places on the old battlefield. In the ninth year of Zhenguan (635), an edict was issued saying: "On Mount Wutai, Manjusri must live, a secluded residence for all saints, and the environment is in Taiyuan. It is the place where my ancestors cultivated their virtues. It is appropriate not to be afraid." "In this year, ten temples were built in Mount Tai. , the degree increased by hundreds."
Wu Zetian attached great importance to the role of Buddhism in the struggle for the throne. In the second year of Changshou (693), the famous monk Bodhi Liuzhi and others published a new translation of the "Precious Rain Sutra", saying that the Bodhisattva appeared in female form, which created public opinion for Wu Zetian's ascension to the stage. In the first year of Zhengsheng (695), he also ordered Bodhi Liuzhi and Shishananda to re-translate the Huayan Sutra. The translation was completed in the second year of the Holy Calendar (699). The new translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra says: "There is a place in the northeast called Qingliang Mountain. Since ancient times, Bodhisattvas have stayed in it. Now there is a Bodhisattva named Manjushri, and his followers, ten thousand Bodhisattvas, are always there. Among them is the speech. "In the second year of Chang'an (702), Wu Zetian claimed that she "wandered to the five peaks of Mount Qingliang" and ordered the reconstruction of Qingliang Temple, the representative temple of Mount Wutai. After Gongjun, he appointed Master Dadegan as the abbot of Qingliang Temple, and named him "the founding father of Changping County, with a settlement of 1,000 households, and in charge of the affairs of monks and nuns in the capital."
This is Mount Wutai's highest ranking in the country. The beginning of the Buddhist world's dominance was also the beginning of Wutai Mountain's development into a famous mountain and holy place under the use and hostage of feudal rulers.
According to records, from Taizong to Dezong in the Tang Dynasty, "all the nine emperors admired Lingshan, left a sacred realm, wore heavenly clothes, wore five caps at a time, and used fragrant medicine to last year by year. As for the worship of Baipi and the special help and offerings, it cannot be fully recorded." It is obvious that from Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, everyone gave great support and assistance to Mount Wutai Buddhism.
From the perspective of Buddhist classics, in addition to the newly translated "Huayan Sutra" saying that Manjushri Bodhisattva's residence is "named Qingliang Mountain", the "Buddha Speaks of Manjushri Treasure Dharani Sutra" also says: "The Buddha told King Vajra Secret Traces said: After my extinction, there is a country named Dazhenna in the northeast of Nanfangbu Prefecture, with a mountain named Wuding, where the boy Manjushri lives and preaches for all sentient beings."
Because the "Qingliang Mountain" and "Wuding Mountain" mentioned in Buddhist classics as the residence of Manjusri Bodhisattva are very similar to the topography, climate, and environment of Mount Wutai, Buddhists at home and abroad call Mount Wutai the "Five Peaks Standing Out". The natural existence of "There Was No Heat" is regarded as the residence of Manjusri Bodhisattva in their illusory world. In this way, Mount Wutai has become a holy place where Buddhists compete to pay homage. It is famous both at home and abroad and is prominent in the world. It goes without saying that Mount Wutai, as a Buddhist holy land, became famous both at home and abroad with the help of the prosperity of the Li and Tang Dynasties.
In the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was highly respected, and Manjushri Bodhisattva was especially revered by Buddhists. The state stipulates that all temples in the country must enshrine statues of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Since both the government and the public respected Manjushri Bodhisattva and regarded Mount Wutai as a holy land of Buddhism, Mount Wutai prospered unprecedentedly and many famous monks emerged, among which Chengguan was an outstanding representative.