Wannian Temple serves as one of the starting points for hiking up Mount Emei. The temple’s Wu Liang Hall, entirely constructed of bricks, was built by Emperor Wanli to celebrate his mother’s longevity. Inside the ‘Xingyuan Building’, there are three treasures you should not miss: the Buddha’s Tooth, the Palm Leaf Scriptures, and the Wanli Golden Seal. Most of the current structures of Wannian Temple were rebuilt in 1953. The Wu Liang Hall, originally constructed in the 28th year of the Ming Dynasty, features lower walls adorned with twenty-four Buddhist niches, each containing iron-cast Buddha statues.
The Wu Liang Brick Hall also enshrines a copper statue of Samantabhadra, depicted as sitting on a golden lotus throne atop a six-tusked white elephant. Behind the hall, the ‘Xingyuan Building’ houses the Buddha’s Tooth, Palm Leaf Scriptures, and Wanli Golden Seal. The Buddha’s Tooth, approximately 40 centimeters long, was a gift from a Sri Lankan monk during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. It is believed to be a fossil of a saber-toothed elephant’s tooth.
The Palm Leaf Scriptures, a gift from the King of Siam (now Thailand), are written in Sanskrit with the complete text of the ‘Sangiti Agama’ and are known for their resistance to insects, mold, and decay, making them invaluable to Buddhism. The Wanli Golden Seal, one of the three treasures, is a precious square seal measuring 13 centimeters and weighing 4 kilograms. It is an imperial seal bestowed by Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, inscribed with ‘Great Ming Wanli, bestowed upon Mount Emei, imperially titled brick hall, treasure of Samantabhadra’s vows. ‘ Despite being made of copper, it is revered as a golden seal due to its imperial origin.The temple is surrounded by a tranquil environment and retains numerous historical inscriptions, including the ‘First Mountain Stele’ written by the Song Dynasty calligrapher Mi Fu. Opening hours are from 07:00 to 18:00 all year round. Preferential policies for children: free for heights 1.2 meters (inclusive) and below; half-price for heights 1.2 meters (exclusive) to 1.5 meters (inclusive).
