Young travelers hold lotus-shaped glass lights to wish for good fortune and world peace at the light delivery event at the Puji Temple in Putuo Mountain, Nov 17, 2017. More than 1,000 Buddhists and travelers from home and abroad took part in the activity. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Putuo Mountain means a lot to Buddhists in Japan for the Zen Master Yisha Yining, who once was the abbot of Baotuo Temple (the Puji Temple now) in Putuo Mountain. Less well known than Master Jian Zhen, Master Yishan Yining also had made great contributions to Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges. Visiting Japan during the early Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) as an envoy, he never came back and was received with high respect from the Japanese authorities and was appointed as abbot of temples in Kyoto. In 1317, he was confirmed as national Zen teacher after his death.

2017 also marks the 700th anniversary of Master Yishan Yining's death. A ceremony was held at the festival and there was an exhibition to commemorate his life.