Two Ways of Walking
Traditionally, there are two ways of pilgrimage at Mount Wutai.
Great Pilgrimage: walk the five summits in sequence, covering dozens of kilometers in total, usually taking three to five days, with overnight stays on the mountain.
Small Pilgrimage: climb Daiduo Peak. The hall at the top enshrines the Five Direction Manjushris, so some say, "One small pilgrimage equals walking all five summits."
One Thousand and Eighty Steps
The stone steps of Daiduo Peak number about one thousand and eighty, and the slope is not gentle.
It takes roughly forty minutes to an hour to finish, depending on stamina and stops.
Trees line both sides of the stairs, a rare shaded spot in the Taihuai valley.
A Few Rules
A Reminder About Altitude
The summits are high in altitude, and temperatures are much lower than in the Taihuai valley; even at summer noon, a jacket may be needed.
For walking the summits, it is advisable to set out early and descend in the afternoon, avoiding thunderstorms. When the weather is bad, giving up decisively is safer than persisting.
Those with heart, blood pressure, or respiratory conditions should consult a doctor before setting out.
The Meaning of the Rules
None of these rules is about "gaining something." They are only about "how to walk."
Perhaps this is the true content of pilgrimage: shifting attention away from the result and back to the footsteps.