China: A statue of Marici or Dou Mu in one of the Long Men (Dragon Gate) pavilions, Xishan (Western Hills), near Kunming, Yunnan Province

In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, Marici is known as the Goddess of the Heavens, Goddess of Light, and a solar deity. Also known elsewhere as Marishi-ten (摩利支天?), Marisha-Ten (another Japanese name) and Mólìzhītiān Púsà (Chinese: 摩利支天菩萨; pinyin: Mólìzhītiān Púsà). She is believed to be one of the Twenty (or Twenty Four) Heaven Celestials (二十/二十四诸天).

Lying 15 km west of Kunming City, the Dragon Gate (Long Men) in the Western Hills is close to the west shore of Dianchi Lake. It consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex.

Dragon Gate is over 2,300 meters, 300 meters higher than the water surface of Dianchi Lake.

In Taoism, Marici is known under the epithet of the Dipper Mother (traditional Chinese: 斗母元君; pinyin: Dǒumǔ Yuánjūn).

Western Hills Forest Reserve (simplified Chinese: 西山森林公园; traditional Chinese: 西山森林公園; pinyin: Xī Shān Sēnlín Gōngyuán) lies in the Biji Mountain chain to the west of Kunming, China. It is visible from the eastern or northern banks of Dianchi Lake.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia