1 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
View submission: Desecrated Buddhas at Longxing Temple, Zhengding, Hebei
So many times I expected a delicate jewel of a temple, with what the Japanese call a *wabi sabi* esthetic, and instead saw massive slabs of glossily painted concrete. In a few cases, a kernel of the original was still there (e.g. Shang Huayan Temple in Datong, Dabei Temple in Tianjin), which made the modernization look even worse.
Another "crime" is when they wrap "parks" or "scenic areas" around a temple's compound and charge a small fortune for entry to what would otherwise be free. This attracts tourists and the activities they clamor for (imagine passing a shooting range on your way into a temple!)
The destroyed tower: was that the Guanghua Temple in Putian? When was the old one destroyed? The one I saw in 2011 *looked* old; I wonder if I was duped?
Comment by sunnybob24 at 04/02/2025 at 11:40 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Sorry. It was the tower in Guangxiao temple in Canton. I screwed up the characters. ðŸ¤
I used to visit it often. I have photos of the old and new ones somewhere. The old one was leaning slightly in a non-dangerous way. Charming. I think this was the temple where Master Huineng spoke the moving flag koan.