Luojia Shan and Guanyin's Leap

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 16, 2015.)

Luojia Shan as seen from Putuo Shan, with Guanyin's Leap in the foreground

Putuo Shan is an island lying off the coast of Zhejiang, accessible via Ningbo or Shanghai. It is considered one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, and is dedicated to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. (The others are Emei Shan for Puxian; Jiuhua Shan for Dizang; and Wutai Shan for Wenshu.)

Pillars of Ashoka

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 21, 2015.)

The Pillar of Ashoka at Jing'an Temple, Shanghai

Ashoka, king of the Mauryan Empire (322 to 185 BCE), ruled most of what is modern India, including the area where the historical Buddha had been active about three centuries before.

The Character for "Buddha"

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 1, 2016.)

The character for "Buddha" on a mended tree at Tiantong Temple, Ningbo, Zhejiang 

Two Chinese characters are commonly seen when visiting temples in China. One is the character for "Chan" (Zen), usually seen on a banner in front of the Chan Hall. The other is the character for "Buddha." Let's look at that today.