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Emeishan
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Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Sign pointing
the way to the hiking path and bamboo chairs carried by two stout men.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - These Bonsai plants decorated the cable car
entrance building.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - More Bonsai plants.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - More Bonsai plants.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Another Bonsai plant.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Many Bonsai plants like this decorated the
cable car entrance building.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Notice all the Bonsai plants that decorated
the cable car entrance building.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - View of the cars from the cable car entrance
building.
Emeishan: Sculptured hedges planted under the cable car run as seen through
the window of my car going up.
Emeishan: This shot shows how the run descends in the middle of the long
ascent.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Cable car terminal at the top of the line.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Ten "Commandments" for venders doing business
on the holy mountain.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Big Bell pavilion across the entry plaza for
one of the temples.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Big Bell pavilion across the entry plaza for
one of the temples.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Bonsai decorations near the bell pavilion.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Turtle pond.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Wow! Did they mangle the English translation
here. It is a fire extinguisher, of course.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - This is the big bell of the Big bell pavilion.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Close up shot of the big bell of the Big bell
pavilion. |
  6
September 2008
Wannian Monastery on
Emeishan,
My second day in the
Emeishan area provided a time to visit the Wanshan Monastery
where monks have been studying the ancient teachings of Buddhism
for more than a thousand years. In several temples on the
grounds I stand before trios of Buddhas. The special place held
by these particular three historical figures reminds me of the
Holy Trinity of Christianity. The comparison has deeper
historical significance too, as my recent research
discovered. The number "three" figures prominently in
Buddhism. The groups of Buddha statues seen in temples
throughout China represent monks that epitomized the three
essential
practices of Buddhism: virtue, compassion and wisdom. Then
there are the three basic
characteristics of being itself taught by Buddhism:
impermanence, suffering and illusion. Finally there are
the subjects of veneration suggested by the original Buddha
himself referred to as the
Three Jewels: the historical Buddha, his teachings and the
community of believers. This monastery complex is so big
maintenance must be a full time job for an army of scrapers and
painters. It reminds me of the challenge faced by sailors on a
naval vessel: chip and paint, chip and paint, and then do it all
again... until the boat sinks.
Note: This page is an
appendage to the main Postcard from
Emeishan. Another appendage provides a place for all the
photographs taken in the Emeishan
Golden Summit area.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Another inspirational message.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Elephant Row, a pathway between two of the
temples.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Elephant Row, a pathway between temples.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Work of some of the world's first Caricature
artists. These are revered monks now considered Buddhas.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Work of some of the world's first Caricature
artists. These are more of the revered monks now considered Buddhas.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Close up shot of the Buddha on an elephant.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Bas relief decoration on one of the large
heavy doors.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - One of the porters and his heavy load.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Bamboo Chairs being used to carry tourists up
the long trail to the WanNian Monastery.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Large groups on guided tours roamed
the grounds with the leader using a megaphone.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Looking toward the pavilion where I
paused to meditate.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - View from the place where I sat down
for a period of meditation.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - View of other buildings from my chosen
meditation place.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Bonsai decorations near the bell
pavilion.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Religious goods and souvenirs are on sale in
this building.
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Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Creature guarding one of the temple entrances
at the monastery. Looks kind of familiar, doesn't he?
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Sign pointing the way to the monastery and
other attractions on the mountain.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Entry staircase up to the monastery.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Another view of people descending the entry
staircase.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Sign warning visitors about the unpredictable
monkeys along the trail.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - One of many inspirational messages posted at
various places around the mountain and in Buddhist monasteries.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Historical notes about the monastery.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - My first view of the monastery... and another
ticket window.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Incense burning in the entry patio.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Elephant Row detail, a pathway between
temples. Notice the three tusks.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - One of many inspirational messages posted at
various places around the mountain and in Buddhist monasteries.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Buddha on an elephant.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Looking down the entry stair case.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - This long staircase is a part of the hiking
trail up to the monastery.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Cable cars passing one another on my way down.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Porters carrying heavy loads up to the
monastery. The guy off to the left made some urgent money gestures after he
saw me photograph his companion further down the trail. Naturally, I
couldn't understand him.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Bamboo Chairs being used to carry tourists up
the long trail to the WanNian Monastery.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - Bamboo Chairs being used to carry tourists up
the long trail to the WanNian Monastery.
Emeishan: WanNian Monastery - First view of the monastery at the top of the
entry staircase. |
