No. 22: Baoguang Temple, Chengdu, Sichuan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on June 11, 2012.)

The Ascetic Shakyamuni (禁欲的释迦牟尼) at Baoguang Temple (宝光寺), Chengdu, Sichuan (四川, 成都市), is a carved
panel showing the Buddha-to-be when he mistakenly thought that mortifying the body would lead to enlightenment.

May 17, 2010 - Though legend says Baoguang Temple in Chengdu was founded in the Han Dynasty, records have only been kept since the Tang. Many temples have this dual system of a legendary founding, followed by an historical one.

No. 21: Wuyou Temple, Leshan, Sichuan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on June 4, 2012.)

Skanda-Kumara (塞建那) rides a peacock (孔雀) in the entry to the 500 Arhats' Hall (五百罗汉殿) at Wuyou
Temple (乌尤寺) in Leshan, Sichuan (四川, 乐山市), near the statue of the Great Buddha of Leshan.

May 16, 2010 - A busy, big day! My wife and I left Chengdu by an early bus for Leshan, home to the world's largest carved stone Buddha. Despite its worldwide status, though, the colossus was not our primary goal.

No. 20: Zhaojue Temple, Chengdu, Sichuan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 28, 2012.)

The Screen Wall (照壁) at Zhaojue Temple (昭觉寺) in Chengdu, Sichuan (四川, 成都市) has a Dharma
Wheel (法轮) on it. Above are two of the six letters in the phrase "Namo Amitofo" (南无阿弥陀佛)
meaning "Homage to Amitabha Buddha," the central Buddha in Pure Land (净土) practice.

May 15, 2010 - Leaving Wenshu Yuan, our party of four headed a few kilometers north to Zhaojue ("Clear Awakening") Temple.

No. 19: Wenshu Yuan, Chengdu, Sichuan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 21, 2012.)

A rakshasa (罗刹) or demon is crushed under the foot of Virudhaka (增长天王) in the Heavenly Kings' Hall
(天王殿) at Wenshu Yuan (文殊院) in Chengdu, Sichuan (四川, 成都市). These figures represent the
"crushing" of unhelpful desires. They also sometimes serve to hold up the unsupported leg of a statue.

May 15, 2010 - In May of 2010, I had a chance to visit Chengdu to meet up with an old friend. This gave me a chance to see the three temples there that were on my list, plus the one at nearby Leshan.

The first temple I visited was Wenshu Yuan, where my wife (who arrived on a later flight than mine) and my friends would meet me for lunch. The temple is located in the heart of the city, now just two subway stops from Tianfu Square (though the subway wasn't open when we were there).

Trip 4: Chengdu (May 14-17, 2010)

This is a record of my fourth trip to visit the 142 Key Temples of China. Links lead to articles on the temple (or other site) named.