Da Fo Si Rong Xian! The Buddha Temple of Rong Xian
Rong Xian Citi , Sichuan China
UNESCO Carved In Mountain - Leshan Giant Buddha
UNESCO World Heritage Site
On this foggy day, by boat, we set out on a 3 hour tour - sorry wrong story line. What we really did was set out on an epic journey to see the Leshan Giant Buddha that was carved into the side of a mountain.
Please visit Wikipedia for more information:
Construction was started in 713, led by a Chinese monk named Hai Tong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traveling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Hai Tong's disciples in 803.
Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the water safe for passing ships.[citation needed]
A sophisticated drainage system was incorporated into the Leshan Giant Buddha when it was built. It is still in working order. It includes drainage pipes carved into various places on the body, to carry away the water after the rains so as to reduce weathering.
When the Giant Buddha was carved, a huge thirteen story wood structure (similar to the one at the Rongxian Giant Buddha) was built to shelter it from rain and sunshine. This structure was destroyed and sacked by the Mongols during the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. From then on, the stone statue was exposed to the elements.
Street music in Rongxian, China
A Canadian plays drums for a street band he happens on in Rongxian, Guangxi province, China
Sichuan China trip diary
* no copyright infringements intended. Jiuzhaigou , Chengdu, Sichuan, China .
China 2010 08 08 Danba to Yaan
Description:
Day 15 Aug 8th, 2010 Travel from Danba to Yaan
The Gubo Hotel in Danba was OK. A few problems with the bath room but there was hot water and standard toilet kind-of worked. I had a great rest and was up with the group for a 8:30am breakfast and a 9:30am check out and travel to Yaan. The big learning here is that the remote parts of China have standards for sanitation are not like our in North America standards. I basically took the whole experience as if I was camping.
Prior to the departure, I returned to the Tibetan shop with Donna and purchased a few more items, prayer flags and a Buddha poster. Then back to the cars for a 200+ Km trip south to Yaan. We were thinking we could do a few extra stops as the trip was so short.
Not to be true. The route south to Yaan was part of massive road and hydro dam construction projects. The were road closures, traffic jams, delays that some times took about 1½ hours. The whole trip to Yaan (including a few stops and lunch) took about 10 hours. Our altitude went form about 2,000 meters in Danba to less than 500 meters in Yaan. Did I mention that Yaan is like a tropical experience? Palm, Bamboo and Cacti grow with an abundance of other tree that make the environment look like we are in Thailand. Yes, the temperature was very hot. The bottom line is the drive was long, hot, rough, dusty and demanding.
The drivers were great. You really do need a 4x4 vehicles and a good understanding of the roads as there were very few signs. One last comment on the driving. In the north with speeds of 30 – 40 Km/hr, the random driving, passing, animals roaming, people shopping and difficult roads were some what workable. At 60 – 80km/hr on faster roads in southern Sichuan, the situation was very dangerous. People conducted their day to day activities as same however with unsafe traffic speeds. Only the future with tell what all these changes will create in China and to the northern parts of Sichuan.
As we approached Yaan, a rather large city, I could notice the smog and large city sights, sounds and smells. The people were no longer mainly Tibetan, but appeared to be more traditional Chinese in appearance. There were no more Sobas and traditional Tibetan prayer flags on the houses and road side.
We checked into the beautiful Hongzhu Hotel around 7:30pm and I took a long bath followed by a light vegetarian dinner. Tomorrow is the last day of the formal tour. We have a 2:00pm flight form Haan to Beijing tomorrow then Lauren and I will have three more days in Beijing to relax and sight see. Then back to Halifax on the 13th or August.
Steve Oliver
Aug 8th, 2010
Kids in Mabian, Sichuan province, China
Kids who live on the mountain top. Their life is not easy, but they are strong and like to study.
Xian Part One
After a gruelling 12 hour hard seater train journey from Guangyuan in Sichuan, we finally made it to Xian, the start of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Warriors. Exhausted, but excited we got through lots of sightseeing; starting with the Muslim Quarter, the Great Mosque, the Drum and Bell towers, the Temple of 8 Immortals and Xingqinggong Park! Xian was a wonderful, and stunning city!
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Second part to come!
buddhist pagoda... Shangai, China (East Asia)
Mrs Wang in Ganluo
How Rotary International are helping the leprosy sufferers of Ganluo
Josh Wiebe Zhang Jia Jie China NLCC
LOL
China temple
In china temples looking like this
Aflo Mike Plays at The Drum Tower, Xi'An, China 2006
Michael Villiers, L.A. Musician plays drum at The Drum Tower in Xi'An, China 2006
Xiangde/Jiuhuashan (Nine Lotus Mountain) Temple, Taiwan R.O.C
Xiangde/Jiuhuashan (Nine Lotus Mountain) Temple, April 2011
Location: Tianxiang, Taroko Gorge, Taiwan R.O.C.
Chinese dragon
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and Chinese folklore. The dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles, fish, and imaginary creatures, but they are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. In yin and yang terminology, a dragon is yang and complements a yin fenghuang .
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Hong Kong Media: China's Top 10 Prisoners of 2011
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Hong Kong media selected China's top 10 prisoners of 2011.
Activists said there are many political prisoners in China.
They are sent to jail for giving a voice to democracy and
human rights.
On Dec.28, Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper selected
China's top 10 prisoners of 2011.
They are; AIDS activist Hu Jia; China Democracy founder
Qin Yongmin; law scholar Xu Zhiyong;
Blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng; artist Ai Weiwei;
writer Ran Yunfei; activists Liu Xianbin and Liu Xiaobo;
Zhao Lianhai, father of a child harmed by melamine-tainted
milk; and 64tianwang.com founder Huang Qi,
64tianwang.com worker Pu Fei: They experienced long-term
prison sentences, and are suppressed by the authorities.
For example, within the space of 10 years, Huang Qi spent
8 years in prison, a high frequency even within China.
Thus Ming Pao selected them as top 10 prisoners,
I don't think it is wrong, it is an actual comment.
One top 10 prisoner, activist Qin Yongmin from Wuhan, said
there are hundreds of thousands of such prisoners in China.
Under the current dictatorship, more and more people suffer.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) takes political charges
as criminal offenses, denying the existence of political
prisoners. Instead, dissidents are sentenced with such charges
as inciting subversion of state power.
Qin Yongmin: Years ago, the CCP invented anti-revolution
crimes for persecution.
Today the CCP uses the inciting subversion of state power
charge instead, but they are the same.
The CCP can seize power with violence, but not allow you to
have peace and freedom of speech. It is the major problem.
This is the common nature of a dictatorship, as they do
whatever they want. You commit a crime if you speak.
Qin said that even the Middle East has moved towards
Democracy. China is the last great dictatorial regime.
It is one of the few countries with dictatorship, and it is
impossible to avoid this democracy trend.
Qin believes selecting 'China top 10 prisoners' has limitations,
as such prisoners are everywhere in China.
Qin Yongmin: I believe the top 10 prisoners, including all
activists and dissidents are concerned for the country and
people, looking for the right direction for the country,
and are responsible for it's future.
However, under China's current system, those who speak for
the nation and people, are sent to prisons more often.
This fact is painful; it is the major human rights problem.
If the problem can not be solved, China's social progress
cannot be solved.
In April 2011, the US published 2010 Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices.
It criticized China's deterioration in human rights.
The CCP continues to use illegal detention, improper trials,
and house arrests, including for family members.
Pu Fei: Since June 4, 1989, China's democracy movement
has never rested.
In the past 23 years, in Sichuan province, countless activists
were sent to jail.
We don't know the names of many of them, but they continue
fighting for their freedom, for a great goal.
Pu Fei said that any country in the world with dictatorship
cannot last forever, as a cloud cannot cover the sun forever.
The victory of China's human rights and democracy movement
is a historical necessity, and is the only choice.
NTD reporters Chang Chun, Huang Rong and Wang Mingyu
《神韵》2011世界巡演新亮点
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping ; 22 August 1904 -- 19 February 1997) was a politician and reformist leader of the People's Republic of China who, after Mao Zedong's death, led his country towards a market economy. While Deng never held office as the head of state, head of government or General Secretary of the Communist Party of China , he nonetheless was the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to 1992. As the core of the second generation leaders, Deng shared his power with several powerful older politicians commonly known as the Eight Elders.
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Emperor Wen of Sui | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Emperor Wen of Sui
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Learning by listening is a great way to:
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Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
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The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
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Emperor Wen of Sui (隋文帝; 21 July 541 – 13 August 604), personal name Yang Jian (楊堅), Xianbei name Puliuru Jian (普六茹堅), nickname Nryana (Chinese: 那羅延; pinyin: Nàluóyán), was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD). He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. The Sui Shu records him as having withdrawn his favour from the Confucians, giving it to the group advocating Xing-Ming and authoritarian government. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state. He is regarded as one of the most important emperors in Chinese history, reunifying China in 589 after centuries of division since the fall of Western Jin Dynasty in 316. During his reign began the construction of the Grand Canal.
As a Northern Zhou official, Yang Jian served with apparent distinction during the reigns of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou and Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou. When the erratic Emperor Xuan died in 580, Yang, as his father-in-law, seized power as regent. After defeating the general Yuchi Jiong, who resisted him, he seized the throne for himself, establishing the new Sui Dynasty (as its Emperor Wen). He was the first Chinese to rule North China after the Xianbei invasion which conquered that area from the Liu Song dynasty (not counting the brief reconquest of that region by Emperor Wu of Liang).
Generally speaking, Emperor Wen's reign was a great period of prosperity not seen since the Han Dynasty. Economically, the dynasty prospered. It was said that there was enough food stored for 50 years. The military was also powerful. At the beginning of his reign, Sui faced the threat of the Göktürks to the north, and neighbored Tibetan tribes to the west, Goguryeo in the northeast, and Champa (Linyi) threatening the south. By the end of Emperor Wen's reign, the Göktürks had split into an eastern and a western kaganate, the eastern one being nominally submissive to Sui, as was Goguryeo. Champa was defeated and, while not conquered, did not remain a threat.
Emperor Wen is also famous for having the fewest number of concubines for an adult Chinese emperor. (Emperor Fei of Western Wei and the Ming dynasty Hongzhi Emperor were the only two perpetually monogamous Chinese emperors.) Emperor Wen was known for having only two concubines (although he might have had additional concubines not documented by traditional historians), with whom he might not have had sexual relations until after the death in 602 of his wife Empress Dugu, whom he loved and respected deeply.
Stunning Train Natural Scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway
In this video, you will view stunning and amazing sceneries outside the train windows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau along the railway to Tibet. Find more information about China Tibet Train on Qinghai-Tibet railway here: .
Gansu
Gansu (simplified Chinese: 甘肃; traditional Chinese: 甘肅; pinyin: Gānsù) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northwest of the country.
It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east. The Yellow River passes through the southern part of the province.
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