Category Archives: Temples

Heritage Art

Posted in Art, China, Location, Temples by

There’s something very mesmerizing about the art in East Asian heritage sites – it’s just breathtaking.

Sanjusangendo

Posted in Art, Japan, Location, Subject, Temples by

This is part of the #Sanjusangendo temple. These are replicas of the deity Kannon. Kannon has 1000 arms, so each statue has 42 arms in rows of 25 (to cover the 25 planes). Altogether it means it represents the 10000 arms. They each also have several heads. Supposedly they have 10 heads with which to see human suffering and 10 times that many arms with which to eliminate human suffering. They are protected by the statutes of the warriors (most of which are deities from the Hindu faith–i.e. Braham is a guardian of the Kannon here, but the God of Creation in Hindu). There are hundreds of these and they date back to the 1200s.
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Standing through the Storm

Posted in Building Exterior, Cityscape, Landmark, Location, Subject, Taiwan, Temples, Uncategorized by

#Temple in #Taipei. The #cultural difference between temples mainland #China and #Taiwan was interesting. Taiwan had more varieties of blue, a lot more incorporation of ocean symbolism, and a lot of practicing believers in there praying. In China you have some believers pray, but it’s more like ‘while I’m here.’ In Taiwan the feel is that they normally come, and this is daily life.

Either way, the temples are gorgeous!

Cherry Blossoms

Posted in Japan, Landmark, Location, Street Art, Subject, Temples, Uncategorized by

Art in the temple & gardens of Sanjusangendo & Chishaku-in at the beautiful #Kyoto. Facebook reminded me of this trip in my memories today. I still say, if you could only visit one city in all of #Japan, go to Kyoto. Breathtaking history, culture, art, museums, temples, natures, modern. . . . I ❤️ Kyoto as much as I do Seoul (and that’s saying a lot!)

Gongyi Grotto

Posted in Building Exterior, China, Statues, Subject, Temples by

#Gongyi #Grottos – one if 4 Famous grottos in #China.  These are places where loyal #monks have carefully carved out thousand and millions of #buddhas and religious #statues into the walls of nearby #caves over CENTURIES!  Unfortunately, many of the ones in Henan were destroyed during the #CulturalRevolution or were defaced by the Western militaries During the wars with #China.  Still an amazing, awe-inspiring sight! Well worth the trip! Thanks to the Henan Provincial Tourism Bureau for sponsoring our trip today – it was lovely!

The Next Generation

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Jumping Jacks (Wushu-Style)

Posted in China, Location, People, Performing Arts, Temples, Uncategorized by

Look carefully, and you’ll see the Chinese lanterns in the background – I thought this was a cool photo. These are performing Chinese students of Wushu from the Shaolin Temple during the biennial Wushu Festival.

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Light in the Shadows

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Through Ancient Roofs

Posted in Building Exterior, Cityscape, Japan, Location, Nature, Subject, Temples by

 

 

The modern Kyoto Tower through the roofs of one of the Shrines

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Standing Guard

Posted in China, Location, Statues, Temples by

Grim-faced Statues still standing guard over the burial grounds of China’s Emperors

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