(1) This is the first courtyard at Guanlin, a temple dedicated to Guan Yu. He was a historical figure who has been deified by the Taoists and co-opted by the Buddhists. The head of the historical figure is said to be buried in an earthen mound behind this temple.
Although he died in 219, the temple dates only from the Ming. It's still possible that his head is here, though, as the mound could have been there quite a long time before the temple was built.
(2) The pathway to the main hall. Each of the 36-plus-16 lions on the side was unique, as far as I could see.
(3) One of the beribboned lions.
(4) Some of the halls showed their age in a pleasing way.
(5) The main figure in the main hall.
(6) This assemblage behind the main figure does honor to the Three Sworn Friends, of whom Guan Yu is generally the center. (The two friends also flanked the main figure, but I chose to show this grouping as they're more chummy.)
(7) The trio again, in the second hall, looking even more cartoon-y.
(8) The second hall was quite old, and the beams and rafters were beautiful.
(9) In front of the mound stands a stele in a pavilion; here's the top of the one, and the underside of the other.
(10) At last, the mound. The wall around it was built in the Qing Dynasty to retain it. It's immensely larger than, but quite similar in design to, the mounds of the two Indians that we saw at Baima Si yesterday.
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Last Updated August 9, 2019
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