The Pilgrim Xuanzang

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on Monday, July 13, 2015.)

Statue of Xuanzang with his "backpack" at Xingjiao Temple, Xi'an

At some temples, the observant visitor may notice an unusual figure. A monk in antique clothing is carrying something on his back that seems a cross between a backpack and a wooden shrine cabinet.

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.