This is a record of my eighteenth trip to visit the 142 Key Temples of China. Links lead to articles on the temple (or other site) named.
Showing posts with label Hunan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hunan. Show all posts
No. 113: Kaifu Temple, Changsha, Hunan
(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 17, 2014.)
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| Another form of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, this Thousand-Armed Guanyin (千手观音) is at Kaifu Temple (开福寺), Changsha, Hunan (湖南. 长沙市). |
August 12, 2012 - Having moved my base to Changsha, I visited Kaifu Temple, formerly the site of a king's palace. Ma Yin declared himself King of Chu far back in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which followed the glorious Tang Dynasty.
No. 114: Lushan Temple, Changsha, Hunan
(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 24, 2014.)
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| The ornate main gate (大门) at Lushan Temple (麓山寺) in Changsha, Hunan (湖南. 长沙市) |
August 13, 2012 - Reaching my next temple was a different kind of challenge. It wasn’t remote, like Zhenru, or far away, like Jingju. I just couldn't find it!
No. 115: Shangfeng Temple, Nanyue, Hunan
(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 1, 2014.)
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| This relief in a side hall features some of the 18 Arhats (罗汉) at Shangfeng Temple (上封寺), Nanyue, Hunan (湖南, 南岳) |
August 14, 2012 - My next destination was the charming town of Nanyue in Hunan, at the foot of Mount Heng. This is one of the "Five Great Mountains of China," along with another Mount Heng (different Chinese character) in Shanxi in the north; Mount Tai (east); Mount Hua (west); and Mount Song (center). Because of its position in the south, Mount Heng is called Nanyue ("South peak"), as is the town. (Last week's temple on Yue Lu Mountain lies at the north end of the same range.)
No. 116: Nantai Temple, Nanyue, Hunan
(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 8, 2014.)
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| Three different jade Buddhas (玉佛) grace the main altar at Nantai Temple (南台寺), Nanyue, Hunan (湖南, 南岳). |
August 14, 2012 - After my disappointing visit to Shangfeng Temple on Hengshan Mountain, I needed a win.
No. 117: Fuyan Temple, Nanyue, Hunan
(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 15, 2014.)
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| This manly Arhat (罗汉) is typical of the very unusual set at Fuyan Temple (福严寺), Nanyue, Hunan (湖南, 南岳). |
August 14, 2012 - Today we'll look at the third and last of the temples I visited on sacred Hengshan Mountain, the southernmost of China's "Five Great Mountains"--but not the last in Nanyue Town.
No. 118: Zhusheng Temple, Nanyue, Hunan
(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 22, 2014.)
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| Rather than as statuary, the 500 arhats (五百罗汉) at Zhusheng Temple (祝圣寺), Nanyue, Hunan (湖南, 南岳), are displayed on 250 plaques, two to a plaque. Not unique, but unusual. |
August 15, 2012 - The next temple I visited was the 15th and last key temple on this nearly-two week trip.