The Tiger and the Dragon

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on October 12, 2015.)

Tiger and Dragon at the Tian Hou Temple in Sungang Village

In some temples, tigers and dragons are seen paired together, bringing to mind the title of the Academy Award-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). They represent the two aspects of the Dao--that ancient Chinese concept of "the way things are"--called Yin and Yang.

The Eighteen Arhats

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 29, 2016.)

Painting of the Eighteen Arhats at Yufo Temple, Shanghai

I have written from time to time about those uniquely Buddhist figures called "the Arhats." Today, let's look at the most popular group, comprised of eighteen of them.