A Spiritual Interlude: The Pilgrimage to Nanhua Temple
The journey from Chenzhou, still fresh in our memory, naturally led us toward the historical center of Guangdong province. We planned a detour to Nanhua Temple, seeking a moment of spiritual calm and reflection.
The Significance of Nanhua Temple
Nanhua Temple is a profoundly respected Buddhist monastery within the Chan (Zen) tradition. It is renowned as one of the Five Great Schools of Buddhism and served as the residence and teaching center for Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism. The temple is located in Maba town, Qujiang District, approximately 25 km southeast of central Shaoguan in northern Guangdong, and is situated just a few kilometers from the Bei River. This visit was a deliberate and important stop on our return trip to Dongguan from Chenzhou.
Entering the Sacred Grounds
A noticeable feeling of timeless tranquility immediately descended upon us as we entered the temple's sacred area. The main gate was a quiet preamble to the spiritual energy inside, signaled by the sight of people coming and going. The centuries-old architecture, from its grand structures to its fine details, conveyed a message of enduring faith. A stone drum positioned on the threshold subtly marked the transition from the secular world to the sacred.
Echoes of Reverence and History
The courtyards were filled with symbols of monastic life and reverence. A weathered corner wall held a clear prohibition: a brown wall with yellow Chinese characters banning smoking. Nearby, a simple sign, hanging on a wall, identified a specific location or hall by its Chinese name, "Cao Xi". The heavy, devout atmosphere was infused with the fragrance of burning incense, a visible and silent manifestation of prayer.
The temple's beauty was found in both its solemn grandeur and its artistic detail. We paused to appreciate a painting of a pavilion depicted in an intricate, circular pattern, which invites contemplation. The buildings themselves were works of art, such as the tall bell tower and a structure adorned with statues on its green roof, demonstrating the skill of ancient craftsmen. Inside the tower, a large metal bell stood poised to summon the faithful.
Evidence of history was apparent even in less-maintained areas; a damaged wall supported by a wooden post served as a historical testament. The simple, striking beauty of the monastic environment was captured by a red wall topped with a tile roof, and history was literally etched into a black and white wall bearing an inscription.
Harmony with Nature
The surrounding natural environment felt perfectly aligned with the temple's essence. The vibrant life offered a beautiful contrast to the stone structures, such as a tree with thick green leaves providing shade. A closer look revealed nature's persistence: moss covered a rock in the woods with various shades of green, and a lion statue on a stone bench shared its space with lush growth.
Exploring the wooded areas offered a look into a small ecosystem: we spotted a grasshopper on a plant, a lizard on a leaf, a spider on a leaf, and a close-up of a bamboo shoot. Dominating the scene, the impressive forest canopy was anchored by a very tall tree with a remarkably thick trunk.
Our visit to Nanhua Temple served as a perfect and essential break in our long journey, granting us a moment of quiet reflection on the history, faith, and lasting beauty of this sacred site before we continued our trip back to Dongguan.
Gears & Settings | Figures |
Camera | Sony A6700 |
Lens | Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro |
Creative Style | FL |
Date | 31 March 2024 |
Location | Shaoguan, Guangdong, China |
A tree with green leaves#: 1 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm |
A brown wall with yellow words say no smoking in the temple in Chinese#: 2 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm | A sign hanging on a wall says Cao Xi in Chinese #: 3 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 500 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm |
A bunch of burning incenses#: 4 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm | A painting of a pavilion in a circular pattern#: 5 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 200 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm |
A group of people walking into a temple#: 6 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm | A stone drum on the threshold#: 7 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 250 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm |
A black and white wall with an inscription on it#: 8 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 200 | F: 3.5 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm |
The bell tower#: 9 | SS: 1/2000s | ISO: 100 | F: 3.5 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | A building with a green roof statues#: 10 | SS: 1/2000s | ISO: 100 | F: 3.5 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm |
A large metal bell#: 11 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 500 | F: 3.5 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm | A wrecked wall with a wooden post#: 12 | SS: 1/1600s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm |
A red wall in the temple with tile roof#: 13 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm |
A statue of a lion on a stone bench#: 14 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 800 | F: 4.0 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 45mm | Moss growing on a rock in the woods#: 15 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 1000 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm |
A grasshopper on a plant#: 16 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 640 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | A lizard on a leaf#: 17 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 160 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm |
A close up of a bamboo shoot in the woods#: 18 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 1600 | F: 3.5 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | A tall tree with a very thick trunk#: 19 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 3.5 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm |
A spider on a leaf#: 20 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 400 | F: 3.5 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm |
Hire me on Upwork YouTube Github Twitter / X Instagram Automate the Boring
Comments
Post a Comment