The Restudy of Naming Origin of Longmen East Hill as"Fragrant Hill"
The East Hill of Longmen Grottoes is said to acquire the name of"Xiang Shan(Fragrant Hill)"from the enduring legend about the planting of Xiangge,a local fragrant plant.By examining historical manuscripts and re-mains of Buddhist sculptures,the author finds that the name of"Xiang Shan"is originated from the construction of Xiang Shan Temple by WU Zetian on the East Hill in Longmen,which is known as an ideal space for the Buddhist Pure Land,and the East Hill in Longmen was named"Xiang Shan"after that theoretical basis.This study con-cludes that the East Hill was named"Xiang Shan"since the time of WU Zetian's propaganda drive,wherein she disguised her identity as Buddha Maitreya and took the throne.Naming the East Hill as"Xiang Shan"was directly linked with WU's political and religious identity claimed to be authorized from the heaven.WU's political and reli-gious propaganda efforts were strengthened and made more logical to promote the sanctity and legitimacy of WU Zhou regime.Therefore,the name of"Xiang Shan"inspired by the enduring legend of the growth of Xiangge is a mistaken belief and transmission in later generations.
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