Room Interior, Home of Confucius, Qufu, Shandong

Inside one of the rooms at the Home of Confucius (孔府) in Qufu, Shandong (山东, 曲阜市). I was fortunate to visit there with my friend Venerable Yanti (释延提) and one of his seniors, the great monk Yongqian (释永乾) from Shaolin Temple (少林寺), and a "Buddhist pop star" named Gu Kai (顾凯).

Kungfu Warriors, Chongde Temple, Jining, Shandong

Kungfu (功夫) warriors (including me!) at the groundbreaking (奠基) for the new Chongde Temple (崇德寺), in Jining, Shandong (山东, 济宁市).

Mountain Gate, Hongfa Temple, Shenzhen, Guangdong

The Mountain Gate (山门) of Hongfa Temple (弘法寺), located in Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (仙湖植物园) in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市).

Great Goose Pagoda, Daci'en Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

The Great Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) at Daci'en Temple (大慈恩寺), Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市). It was built to hold items brought back from ancient India (天竺) by the monk Xuanzang (玄奘).

Reclining Maitreya, Daxingshan Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

An unusual reclining Maitreya (弥勒) in the Heavenly Kings' (天王) Hall (殿) at Daxingshan Temple (大兴善寺) in Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市). He is usually seen sitting.

New Deva Kings, Wolong Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

When we went to Wolong Temple (卧龙寺) in Xi'an, Shaanxi(陕西, 西安市), we discovered that all of the figures in the main hall (大雄宝殿), including the 24 Deva Kings (天王), were new and still being finished.

Tibetan-style Stupas, Guangren Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

My first temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市), was Guangren Temple (广仁寺), built in Tibetan style, with these stupas out front.

Terracotta Warrior, Xi'an, Shaanxi

 
Before visiting any temples in Xi'an, Shaanxi(陕西, 西安市), we visited the Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑) site outside of the city.

Jade Guanyin, Yufo Temple, Shanghai

The Yufo Temple (玉佛寺) in Shanghai (上海) is famous for the Jade Buddha after which it was named, but there are several more jade figures there, including this one of Guanyin (观音).

Silver Buddha, Jing'an Temple, Shanghai

When I visited Jing'an Temple (静安寺) in Shanghai (上海), it was just being rebuilt. On a later visit, although the temple was not finished, I saw this silver figure of Shakyamuni (释迦牟尼).

Jade Buddha, Yuanming Jiangtang, Shanghai

The buildings at Yuanming Jiangtang (圆明讲堂) in Shanghai (上海) look like office buildings, but some fine statues inside include this Jade Buddha (玉佛).

Pagoda, Longhua Temple, Shanghai

The pagoda (塔) at Longhua Temple (龙华寺) in Shanghai (上海) stands outside the front gate, and is its most famous feature.

Rear Hall, Chenxiangge, Shanghai

The last hall (殿) at Chenxiangge (沉香阁) in Shanghai (上海) has a statue of Guanyin (观音) made of an aromatic wood called agarwood--"chenxiang" (沉香) in Chinese.

Main Hall, Qita Temple, Ningbo, Zhejiang

The new halls (殿) at Qita Temple (七塔寺) in Ningbo, Zhejiang (浙江, 宁波市), are a pleasing combination of gray brick and light wood.

Reliquary, Ayuwang Temple, Ningbo, Zhejiang

The large box on the altar in this picture is said to contain a relic (舍利子) of the skull of Shakyamuni (释迦牟尼), sent there by King Ashoka (阿育王) of India. At Ayuwang Temple (阿育王寺), Ningbo, Zhejiang (浙江, 宁波市).

Compound Gate, Tiantong Temple, Ningbo, Zhejiang

Gateway to a small compound in an upper corner of Tiantong Temple (天童寺) outside of Ningbo in Zhejiang (浙江, 宁波市).

Daguanpeng, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

Daguanpeng Temple (大觀蓬寺) is inside the Nantian Men (南天门) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山). It's an interesting example of how a temple can be fitted into the natural landscape.

Nantian Men, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

The Nantian Men (南天门), the "Gate of the Southern Heaven" on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山), is a natural gateway made of two standing stones with one across the top. These lead into a small temple area.

Three Arhats, Puji Temple, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

Three of the eighteen amazing arhats (罗汉) at Puji Temple (普济寺) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山).

Nine Dragons Hall, Fayu Temple, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

The Nine Dragons Hall (九龙殿) at Fayu Temple (法雨寺) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山) started its life as a Ming-Dynasty palace in Nanjing. It is the "home" of the temple's main Guanyin (观音) statue.

Carving on Fragrant Cloud Path, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

An important carving on the Fragrant Cloud Path (香云路) from Huiji Temple (慧济寺) to Fayu Temple (法雨寺) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山). It depicts the expression "Buddhist Paradise" (海天佛国), carved by a Ming Dynasty general, and lends the island its common nickname.

Entry to Huiji Temple, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

The entry to Huiji Temple (慧济寺) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山).

Gateway of Bukenqu Guanyin Temple, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

The gateway to Bukenqu Guanyin Yuan (不肯去观音院) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山).

Guanyin and Attendants, Zizhu Temple, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

Guanyin (观音) with the usual attendants--Dragon Girl (龙女) and Sudhana/Shancai (善財)--in a hall inside Zizhulin (紫竹林) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山).

Guanyin's Leap, Xifang Jingyuan, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

There is said to be a footprint of Guanyin (观音) on top of the rock in the foreground, where he/she leaped over from Putuoshan (普陀山) to Luojiashan (洛迦山) for some quiet practice. The island itself looks like Guanyin reclining, and is a little over five kilometers away--quite a leap! Located inside Xifang Jingyuan (西方净苑).

Nanhai Guanyin, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

This giant statue of Nanhai ("South Seas") Guanyin (南海观音) is 20 meters high on a 13-meter base--a total of 33 meters, a number sacred to Guanyin. The statue dominates the southeast area of Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山).

Pilgrim Statue, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

This statue of a pilgrim (香客) is seen prostrating just outside the dock area as one arrives on Putuoshan (普陀山), an island in Zhejiang (浙江).

Ji Gong, Jingci Temple, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Ji Gong (济公), seen standing here behind the Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛). He managed to get kicked out of Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) and ended up spending time here at Jingci Temple (净慈寺) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (浙江, 杭州市).

Vairocana Buddha and Attendants, Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

This Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛) and the two bodhisattvas at his sides are located in the uppermost hall at Lingyin Si (灵隐寺) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (浙江, 杭州市), the first "official" temple I visited.

Maitreya and Arhats, Feilai Feng, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Maitreya (弥勒) is also known as the "Laughing Buddha." Here he is surrounded by arhats (罗汉) at Feilai Feng, "The Peak that Flew from Afar," near Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (浙江, 杭州市).