(The following is a post by Jeffrey Wang, Reference Specialist for the Chinese Collection, Asian Division.)
At the beginning of the Qingshui River in China’s north-central Shanxi Province, one will find the sacred site of Mount Wutai, which also goes by the name Qingliang Mountain in reference to its clear and cool climate. It is renowned as one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, along with Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province, and Mount Jiuhua in Anhui Province.
“Jiaqing xun xing Wutai tu shuo” 嘉慶巡幸五臺圖説 (“Map of the Jiaqing emperor’s pilgrimage to Mount Wutai”) is a traditional Chinese map with colored illustrations, which has been digitized and made available online as part of the Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection. Produced during the Jiaqing Emperor’s reign (1796–1819) in the Qing Dynasty 1636–1912), the map details his journey from Mount Wutai to Beijing in 1811. It consists of 15 stops from the Great Wall to the Summer Palace. The distance between the stops is given in Chinese miles (li 里), including the stop numbers, place names, and mileage marked by the side, as well as a description of its geography and history.

The title of this illustration is “Shen jia di yi zhan zi chang cheng ling zhi da jiao chang” 聖駕第一站自長城嶺至大教塲, 共三十里 [Emperor’s pilgrimage route, the first stop from Great Wall Ridge to Grand Parade Ground, total fifteen miles]. Image 3 of juan 1 in “Jiaqing xun xing Wutai tu shuo” 嘉慶巡幸五台圖說 (“Map of the Jiaqing emperor’s pilgrimage to Mount Wutai”), 1811. Chinese Rare Book Collection, Asian Division.

The title of this illustration is “Shen jia di yi zhan zi chang cheng ling zhi da jiao chang” 聖駕第一站自長城嶺至大教塲, 共三十里 [Emperor’s pilgrimage route, the first stop from Great Wall Ridge to Grand Parade Ground, total fifteen miles]. Image 3 of juan 1 in “Jiaqing xun xing Wutai tu shuo” 嘉慶巡幸五台圖說 (“Map of the Jiaqing emperor’s pilgrimage to Mount Wutai”), 1811. Chinese Rare Book Collection, Asian Division.

The title of this illustration is “Shen jia di shi wu zhan zi huang xin zhuang zhi yuan ming yuan” 聖駕第十五站自黄新莊至圓明園, 共五十八里 [Emperor’s pilgrimage route, the fifteenth stop from Huangxin zhuang to the Summer Palace, total twenty nine miles]. Image 56 of juan 1 in “Jiaqing xun xing Wutai tu shuo” 嘉慶巡幸五台圖說 (“Map of the Jiaqing emperor’s pilgrimage to Mount Wutai”), 1811. Chinese Rare Book Collection, Asian Division.

This detail from the “Map of sacred spaces on Mount Wutai” features a representation of the bodhisattva Manjusri, wielding a flaming sword while mounted on a lion and surrounded by a blue cloud. In addition to Chinese, the map contains text in Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan, reflecting the diversity of religious communities assembled on the mountain. “Wutai shan sheng jing quan tu” 五臺山聖境全圖 (“Map of sacred spaces on Mount Wutai”), 1846. Geography & Map Division.
Many Buddhist temples were built on famous mountains where practitioners can practice quietly. Those mountains therefore gained the reputation of being a major Buddhist pilgrimage site in China. Mount Wutai is also home to many of China’s most famous monasteries and temples, such as Nanchan Si 南襌寺, Foguang Si 佛光寺, and Tayuan Si 塔院寺, and the Tibetan Buddhist temples of Wenshu Si 文殊寺 and Zhenhai Si 鎭海寺. It is also the only Buddhist mountain in China where Mahayana Buddhist temples and Tibetan Buddhist temples coexist.
Because of its lofty status, Mount Wutai was a favorite pilgrimage site for many emperors who wished to express their respect for Buddhism and pray for peace and prosperity. From the Northern Wei period (471–499) to the Qing dynasty (1636–1912), the following nine emperors made pilgrimages: Xiaowen (467–499) of the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534); Yang (569–618) of the Sui dynasty (581–619); Taizong (939–997) of the Song dynasty (960–1279); Chengzong (1265–1307) and Yingzong (1303–1323) of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). Emperors Kangxi, Qianlong, and Jiaqing of the Qing dynasty made a total of 16 pilgrimages to Mount Wutai.
Other 19th-century works related to Mount Wutai found in the Chinese Rare Book Collection include “Wu tai shan dao lu quan tu” 五臺山道路全圖 (“Illustrated Guide to Routes on Mount Wutai”), which is available online as part of the Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection; and “Wu tai shan lu cheng quan tu” 五臺山路程全圖 (“The complete map of Mount Wutai”).
If you have questions about any of these works, please contact the Asian Division through Ask-a-Librarian.