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The Peak Flown From Afar
Feilai Peak, also named Lingjiu Peak, stands in front of Lingyin Temple. It was said that an Indian monk by the name of Huili, upon his arrival in the valley, was urprised to see the peak towering in the valley. He wondered aloud "when did  peak come flying all the way from India to this place?" Hence the name.
With a height of 209 meters, Feilai Peak, totally different from the surrounding mountains, is of pure limestone while the surrounding mountains are of sandstone. Many grotesque stones, in the shapes of charming dragon, prostrate tiger, walking elephant and scared ape scatter here and there on the peak, with queer colors, making this peak distinctive among all hills and peaks nearby. No matter, Yuandao, a celebrity of the Ming dynasty, praised that the peak came out number one if compared with all other hills and peaks around the West Lake.
 The cliffs of the peak are dotted with over 340 stone statues in various gestures: sitting, standing or sleeping. Many of these stone statues are quite unique and have unparalleled values in the art history. The biggest Buddha image is the Maitreya with cloth bag on shoulder, otherwise known for Buddha of Joy. With exposed breast and belly, it sits on cliff along the brook, laughing from Northern Song (960-1127) up to now.
Legend goes that, the peak had flown all round and destroyed many villages before it settled down in Hangzhou. In order to prevent the peak from flying to other place and causing more damages, over 500 Buddha statues were caved out of the peak to suppress the peak. |
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