Putuo

Putuo refers to a place name with significance in both China and Tibet. In China, Putuo refers to Putuo Mountain, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Located in Zhejiang province, it is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin and is a major pilgrimage site, attracting millions of visitors annually. The island is known for its numerous temples, statues of Guanyin, and natural scenic beauty, including distinctive rock formations.

In Tibet, Putuo also relates to Guanyin, often referred to as Avalokiteśvara. While not a geographical location in the same way as the Chinese mountain, the concept of Putuo is deeply embedded in Tibetan Buddhism, representing compassion and wisdom. Tibetan monasteries and art frequently depict Guanyin in various forms. The reverence for this bodhisattva is a shared spiritual thread between the two regions, though the physical manifestation in China as Putuo Mountain is a distinct landmark. The term itself carries a spiritual weight connected to a central figure in Mahayana Buddhism.