Jianzhen, Missionary to Japan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 3, 2015.)

The statue of Jianzhen at Daming Temple, Yangzhou, a gift from the Japanese

In some temples you will find images of great monks from Chinese tradition. We have already discussed Xuanzang, who went "west." Today let's look at Jianzhen, who went "east."

Outside the Main Courtyard

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 30, 2016.)

An island in the West Garden's small lake, Daming Temple, Yangzhou

Outside of the temple's main compound there are other features. Many temples have a West Garden, an earthly representation of the Amitabha Buddha's Western Pure Land.

Wenchang Pavilion, Yangzhou

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 21, 2017.)

Wenchang Pavilion in Yangzhou, Jiangsu

When visiting a modern Chinese city, I often marvel at the way today accommodates yesterday--how the needs of people living there now are met while maintaining the past. Xi'an's Bell Tower, surrounded by a traffic circle, comes to mind. But the same effort has been made in other cities, albeit on much humbler scales.