bi shan yan (cont.) - 5

This is the ceiling of the temple, and its name is "zao3 jin3" (藻井). This "zao3 jin3" has some different form others. those "zao3 jin3" are circle usually, but this side is square.

zao3 jin3 is used to show their craft. workmanlike carpenters do this to show their perfect craftsmanship.

The highest part is the narrowest part, and the lowest part is the widest part. Its shape like a triangle. If it's a cone, the carpenter usually use a centre decorate named "ming2 jing4" (明鏡). But on this picture, you can only see some elephant, right?

Because it's circle, it isn't corn. Did you got the right answer?

bi shan yan (cont.) - 4

This one is also a Chinese traditional art - "jiao zh3 tao" (交趾陶). It's a sort of pottery. You can see it on temples, but not every temples. because it's very expensive. One jiao zh3 tao have to undergo 7 methods (draw - shape - dry - hollow out the back or bottom - heating on 1100 Celsius - painting colour - heating again on 800~850 Celsius ), and spend a lot of time. Because of its price, some temple couldn't afford it.

Its oldest name isn't "jiao zh3 tao" , the skill was named "nan2 tang4" (南燙). When Japanese came, they called this skill "jiao zh3 shao"(交趾燒) , I don't know why they called it "jiao zh3 shao" , but I guess they thought the shape is like your feet fingers (or like scissors) .

On this picture, it's a Phoenix, do you like it?

Another closer picture. It's beautiful, isn't it?

Reference: http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/交趾陶

bi shan yan (cont.) - 3

These are "stone lions" on the same temple.

Can you identify their gender?

Let me tell you how to identify their gender, it's very easily.

Look at the picture on the left, you can find a little lion, and this one is female lion.

The one on the right, it's a male lion. Male lion usually take a ball or money(older Chinese currency, circle shape with square hollow.)

In the old article, lion was called "“狻猊" (suan ni2) and their sit was called "须弥座" (xu mi2 zuo4), but I don't really understand whta's that....because I never sit on that...!!

another stone lion, Do you know its gender?

this one is male.

And this one?

this one is female, did you see its offspring?

I am cute, am not I?

bi shan yan (cont.) - 2

Ok, let's continue previous article.

On my trip, I saw something, and took pictures. Enjoying fresh air, nature and peaceful atmosphere, I didn't take too much picture back. but this site, I took a lot of picture back. Let't me introduce them.

This is a column which is in the temple, and I think it's very special.
Why? maybe you should look clearly on the right picture.

YES! that's hollow! and its material is a stone column! the proficient graver made those hollow sculpture. I was shocked when I saw those sculpture.

I hope I can describe it clearer, but I have to look up a lot of word from my dictionary.

bi shan yan - 1

This is a tample of kai zhang sheng wang (A God of min nan people).
and I took 1200 stairs before I arrive there...
but it's quite quiet, peaceful, and serious.
I took some picture form that.
I will intorduce them little by little.

The inverval of the time I post isn't stable...
that's depended on my tempo.
hahaha!!!