Photo Essay - a 1000 Year Old Buddhist Temple
Photo Essay - a 1000 Year Old Buddhist Temple
I posted this article on the Discovery Group more than 3 years ago, but I have added a few photos that were not in the original article, and also by using a decent editing program I have re-edited and improved the original photos. Back then, my wife and I were taken by a friend with a car to a town in Henan Province north of the Yellow River to tour first of all a fruit juice industry, then we enjoyed a delicious lunch banquet hosted by the juice company manager, followed by a tour of this ancient temple from the Sung Dynasty.
1. This statue stood outside the entrance, but I believe it was constructed more recently:
2. Just inside the entrance we were greeted by this magnificent "low relief" sculpture:
3. Then, as we walk past, and to the right, there was a statue of a horse under a 700 year old elm tree:
4. The tree was gnarled and twisted, calcified in an unusual shape, and as you can see, required a lot of support:
5. Behind it was the temple building in which the statue of Buddha sat:
6. The Buddha, as seen through the doors:
7. Buildings to each side contained some fascinating artifacts and images:
8. The building opposite had statues, that appeared to be more recent, or had been refurbished and repainted. :
9. Many images, somewhat faded but still interesting:
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11.
12. To the side of one of the buildings was an ancient well. The well itself appears to have been encased in concrete recently, but the building in which it is located and the apparatus for drawing water from it are still intact. There is still water in the well. You will note the primitive pulley over which the rope would have rolled in order to pull up the pail.
13. The building at the rear of the property was not open for viewing. It was guarded first by Foo Dogs (also known as Foo Lions) and then by statues of human guards, so it might have been for the Sung Dynasty emperor to reside when he was there:
14. The Foo Dogs were most likely original, seeming to have weathered a considerable amount of erosion so that they are now encased in glass. Foo Dogs as guards at entrances are very common in China.
15. A closer view of the building. Pay particular note to the intricate designs under the eaves, This as well is quite common on ancient Chinese buildings:
16. At all ancient Chinese Buddhist temples there is a cemetery, where the various Buddhist "Abbots" were buried:
17. This marked the entrance to the cemetery:
18. One of the gravestones:
19. On the way home, as we crossed the Yellow River (the area being known as the 'Cradle of Chinese Civilization"), we were treated to a typical Chinese sunset - no bright colours.
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I don't know if any NT members are Buddhists - I have many more photos of Buddhas and Temples yet to post.
Dear Friend Buzz: The Eightfold Noble Path contains much wisdom.
Please keep them coming.
The majesty of it all shows through.
Enoch.
"There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path." (Buddha)
that is a good saying
I have visited Buddhist Temples all around the world and am always amazed how welcoming the monks are. Great facilities of faith, The Golden Temple, Saint Peter's/Saint Patrick's, The Hagia Sophia, The Mormon Tabernacle, tend to be welcoming to all people of all faiths but only up to a point. Buddhists more than most. Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha, isn't worshiped as God. Unlike the God of Abraham, he was a philosopher. Comparing The Book of Buddah with The New Testament it seems Christ might well have heard the words of Sidddhartha's philosophies...
Letting go of attachments to our desires is not as easy for modern men as merely accepting the idea as true. I believe we all know we are needlessly causing ourselves unnecessary unhappiness when we desire those things we do not enjoy which others might. A man, a woman, a car, a home, a job. Desire is a damn strong emotion...
In our home. we have a shrine to Bodhisattva GuanYin, Goddess of Mercy (compassion). I read the story of Siddhartha many years ago - I think of him every time I see a river.
Eight is considered a lucky number by the Chinese, but I'm sure you know that there are seven steps to enlightenment according to Zen Buddhism.
Another wonderful photo essay Buzz...
The intricate work on the temples is quite amazing.
Thank you Buzz.
Seeing the work of the ancients is always fascinating.
Of all things the elm tree caught my attention. My father cared for trees, which at times required felling them, though usually not as depicted in movies/tv/advertisements, as the trees were close to homes/patios/gardens.
Even from a young age I would go to help and at one time we went to cut down a dead elm tree. You may or may not be aware, but a blight caused by a fungus and exacerbated by a beetle which spread the fungus.This elm tree was a victim of the what became known as Dutch Elm Disease, which was the fungus infection.
The fungus originated in Asia and found its way to North America by way of Europe. A long time ago, possibly thousands of years ago, the elms in Asia developed a resistance to the fungus, however the elms in Europe and North America had no resistance. Many millions of trees were lost.
It would appear, the old elm in your picture had that resistance from the beginning.
Then another tree comes to mind. An old hickory tree had died. It was straight, tall and a large diameter trunk by most of today's standards. After "topping" it as much as made sense and removing all the limbs/branches, it was still very tall. My father figured out a way to tension it in a way to guide the fall between a garage and patio it was time to make the base cut.
He had a 2 man saw with a removable handle at the end of a 5ft blade with a removable handlefor the 2nd man and a 1 man saw with a 4ft blade. Both saws were required to make the cuts in order to cut through the tree. One from each side.
One of the first things we did after dropping it was to make a smooth cut to count the rings. I remember passing 1492 with plenty more to go. I wonder if this tree saw as much history as the elm in your picture?
Trees
Dear Freind Buzz: Beer by Bud Weiser
I think I shall never hear a poem tasty as a beer.
The stuff Enright's bar has on tap.
Snowy base with a foamy cap.
Poems are made by fools I fear.
Yet only Schlitz can brew a beer.
Enoch, Bending an Elbow.
Thank you for that Buzz.
LOL
It took a lot of Nirvana to share this … and I didn't know that a Buddhist could live to be a thousand years old …
… but it's good to know he has a Temple!
Otherwise …
ANOTHER GREAT PHOTO ESSAY, BUZZ!
You keep coming up with good ones Buzz. There's great material available, of course, but it also takes a great photographer. Kids are going to see this one. Right now, they're out riding bikes, which is far more important to them than actually learning things, even very cool things. Luckily, I expect that from children and I'm very persistent.
These are different from the ones posted in # 8 above. Note the one on the right holding the yin-yang symbol, which is actually Taoist.