Ni Hao Friends & Family

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Taiyuan, pop. 3 million, is the capital city of Shanxi Province. Shanxi means "west of the mountains" and the mountains is where we have been for the last 3 days enjoying cool air, beautiful wild flowers and enough BUddhist temples to last me into the next life. The holy mt. , Wutai Shan, has been a pilgrimage site for over a thousand years for people from India, Japan and Korea, as well as China, and is known for over 200 temples and a very famous stupa (Buddhist holy place). Wu = 5, tai=peaks, shan=mountains - Your assignment is to get onto Google Earth and search Wutai Shan and go on your own pilgrimage. I understand that you can actually see the different temples and the beautiful landscapes. The scenery was spectacular and it was interesting to watch the monks, nuns and pilgrims. I watched one very pious looking monk don his yellow Tibetan robes and go into one of the temples. Just when I thought he might do something interesting he pulled out a cell phone. THey are everywhere!!! We saw a young boy, age 3-4 in robes doing prostrations, and was told that he was a Lama. The Dalai Lama only represents one sect. Between all of the statues, holy men, animals, symbols, rituals, relics...Buddhism is very confusing to me. It is way more that the 4 Noble Truths and 8 Fold Path that I have taught in school.

Driving into Taiyuan on the bus we saw two road fatalities (One from a tour bus that went off the road.) This afternoon we saw another man who had been killed laying on the road. I am telling you, driving here is not for wimps. Besides cars, trucks of all sizes, bicycles by the thousands, scooters, motorized tricycles, you also have to watch out for donkey carts, wheelbarrows, giant potholes, and people driving on any side of thke street that suits them.

THis morning we went to the the Jinci Temple that dates back to the First Duke of Tang, around 1000 AD. It was one of the oldest wooden structures in China and we spent a lovely morning strolling the grounds and enjoying the historical art work. This afternoon is free to get laundry done, grocery shop, and catch up on letter writing. Right now I am in an internet business that we had to walk down an alley, up some back steps to the 2nd floor where there is a room with about 70-80 computers, almost all of them occupied. About half the people are smoking, and with the twilight light bulbs they use here it makes seeing very difficult. However, the computer seems to be working better than the ones I have attempted to use in the hotel.

Tomorrow we are off in the bus for a 1 1/2 hr. ride to the beautifully preserved Ming city of Pinyao. (1368 AD) We will spend the day there and then catch an overnight train to Xian, location of the Terra Cotta soldiers. I have been lucky to not get sick as almost everyone else in the group has been having stomach problems. The only thing I am not drinking is the tea and beer which they consume in liberal amounts. Hopefully my luck will hold out. Will write again from Xian.

Love,
Ms. E (AKA Mom, Grandma, Patty, Honey)

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Comments

[Shauna]

Where in the world?
I have tried to find Mt. Watui on Google Earth, but can only find the city of Taiyuan. Which direction is this mountain from the city? Can anyone help me? I did find out that at one time there were more than 300 temples and 10,000 monks on the mountain, with 47 remaining today. In these temples are more than 100,000 sculptures and paintings. Patty, I hope you get a picture of each one of them! I found that the Jin Ancestral Temple in Tianjin was originally built in memory of Ji Yu, one of the younger brothers of King Chengwang of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1027 or 1022 - 221 BC). It is now the largest imperial garden in China and has won a reputation as the Museum of Ancient Chinese Architecture. Have a great time! Shauna