Famous Rocks in Mount Putuo
By admin on 2015-01-30

Stone of the Chinese Character Heart 心字石 (Picture 1)

The Stone of the Chinese Character Heart is a huge stone covered with the Chinese symbol of the heart on it, situated downhill from the West Heaven Scenic Spot. The stone reminds the people of the power of the heart and it reminds them to think with their heart. The stone itself is more than 100 m2. The heart-symbol is 5 meter high and 7 meter wide. More than 100 people can stand together on the stone. It is the biggest engraved character on Mount Putuo.

Stone of Two Tortoises 二龟听法石 (Picture 2)
The Stone of Two Tortoise is is more than just a rock at the west foot of the Meiling Peak. It's a sculpture of two tortoise made by nature. One is squatting on the top of the rock turning its head back to look down, the other is climbing up to the rock, and looking up. The legend has it that the two turtles used to be the premiers in the Dragon Palace in the East China Sea. They were sent to listen to Guanyin's preaching in secret. They listened so fascinated that they forgot to go back down to the sea and became stones forever.

Pantuo Rock 磐陀石 (Picture 3)
Its name means literally a huge stone on a mountain.  It looks like a cone, standing on the top of another rock . The rock appears to be hanging in the air and seems ready to fall. However, it has stationed there for thousands of years and has never shaken. The three Chinese characters "Pan Tuo Shi" were autographed by Hou Jigao, the famous anti-Japanese-pirates general in the Ming Dynasty.

Buddhist Kingdom amidst the Sea 海天佛国 (Picture 4)
On the way down from Huiji Temple you will see this rock. There are many inscriptions on it and one of them is 'Buddhist Kingdom amidst the sea', the title of Mount Putuo in Buddhism, hence the name of the rock. They are made by Hou Jigao, a famous general of the Ming Dynasty.