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INDIVIDUAL VOYAGE THROUGH CHINA DURING 7 WEEKS PEKING XIAN CHENGDU CHONGQING YANGTZE RIVER MOUNTS HUANGSHAN HANGZHOU SUZHOU SHANGHAI PEKING
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
XINDU
Temple of the Divine Light
To day we go to Xindu, 20 km. far from Chengdu, to visit the Temple of the Divine Light. Interesting is the monastery with it’s young and old visitors dressed in their national costumes of the region. We saunter between the pavilions like in the Temple of Confucius (Xian), but here is the open space invaded by luxuriant vegetation for the reason we are in a subtropical region. Mystic is the environment with the emanations of the incense burned by the pilgrims among bizarre symbolic bronzes. Here we can see a beautiful pagoda of twelve stages, holy place where relics are preserved, inaccessible to the public.
In one of the pavilions, three young bonzes, cranium shaved, naked feet in sandals, wrapped in their red dresses are sitting near a splendid lying Buddha of jade. They are drawing calligraphies with their brushes. I approach, they are indifferent, concentrated. Perhaps is it their thesis they are preparing because this monastery is a center of studies of Buddhism.
Continuing our exploring we see a merry group of youth sitting at the terrace of a building utilized as restaurant. How shall we order a meal and get a ticket? I’m looking at the group of scholars picking a big fish. I smile pointing out the fish, give them my notebook and a pencil ….they understand …..Soon we are enjoying two excellent stuffed and sauced fishes with “mifan” (rice) of course. The dessert is also mifan but with caramel. A feast for 6 yuan (1,2 $) beer included!
Before leaving Xindu we walk in the forest of bamboos that surrounds the temple. There, in the calm, we go silent reminding the pleasant issued hours. At sun setting we return to meet again, at the gallery, our yesterday’s friends.
Temple of the Divine Light
Temple of the Divine Light
To day we go to Xindu, 20 km. far from Chengdu, to visit the Temple of the Divine Light. Interesting is the monastery with it’s young and old visitors dressed in their national costumes of the region. We saunter between the pavilions like in the Temple of Confucius (Xian), but here is the open space invaded by luxuriant vegetation for the reason we are in a subtropical region. Mystic is the environment with the emanations of the incense burned by the pilgrims among bizarre symbolic bronzes. Here we can see a beautiful pagoda of twelve stages, holy place where relics are preserved, inaccessible to the public.
In one of the pavilions, three young bonzes, cranium shaved, naked feet in sandals, wrapped in their red dresses are sitting near a splendid lying Buddha of jade. They are drawing calligraphies with their brushes. I approach, they are indifferent, concentrated. Perhaps is it their thesis they are preparing because this monastery is a center of studies of Buddhism.
Continuing our exploring we see a merry group of youth sitting at the terrace of a building utilized as restaurant. How shall we order a meal and get a ticket? I’m looking at the group of scholars picking a big fish. I smile pointing out the fish, give them my notebook and a pencil ….they understand …..Soon we are enjoying two excellent stuffed and sauced fishes with “mifan” (rice) of course. The dessert is also mifan but with caramel. A feast for 6 yuan (1,2 $) beer included!
Before leaving Xindu we walk in the forest of bamboos that surrounds the temple. There, in the calm, we go silent reminding the pleasant issued hours. At sun setting we return to meet again, at the gallery, our yesterday’s friends.
Temple of the Divine Light
Posted by: jeanette / 2:41 AM 
