#111 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China ( HARBIN: Part 2, World of Ice & Snow, Stalin Park, Buddhist Temples and Confucian Temple!)

Asia » China » Heilongjiang » Harbin
January 14th 2009

Published: January 14th 2009

THIS IS PART "TWO" OF MY 2009 WINTER-VISIT TO HARBIN, THE "FROZEN" CAPITAL OF HEILONGJIANG, THE NORTHERN MOST PROVINCE OF CHINA: MY PRIMARY REASON FOR BRAVING THIS 24 HOUR TRAIN-JOURNEY FROM TAIZHOU TO SUB-ARCTIC HARBIN IS THE ANNUAL "ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL", WHICH INVITES VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, DURING THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY, TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SNOW- AND ICE-CARVIN... Read Full Entry

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Hans J. Schneider

Hans

After 38 years as a Foreign Language Teacher and Foreign Language Dept. Chair at Coral Gables Sr. H.S., and A.J. Professor of German at the University of Miami, I have left Florida in June of 2006, where my home is in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. I have just signed another year's teaching-contract (my 8th year now) with Taizhou University in the city of Taizhou, located about 3hrs north of Shanghai, in Jiangsu Province, CHINA. I thought it would be informative for others and rewarding for me personally, to log the progress of my efforts from beginning to end, as a Travel and Photo Jo... full info

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Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #9

Serenety, peace, and tranquility surround the face of the graceful representation of the Buddha.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #10

I visited the arctic January, a time of less activity in the temple. But every spring, in April by the Chinese Lunar Calendar, several temple fairs are celebrated here.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #11

The Jile Si Temple is divided into several complexes. This pavillion marks the boundry of the largest. To enter the next complex we must exit the gate, and pass through another entrance. The Ferris Wheel in the background is one of the attractions to Harbin Amusement Park, just beyond the temple complex.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #12

To enter the next temple complex, one must walk along this street, which also leads directly to the main entrance of the Harbin Amusement Park. The Ferris Wheel in the distance is its landmark.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #13

The third section of the temple had no visitors, though I found it more ornate and more compact. I was told by a monk, that this part of the temple is used as a hotel for visiting Buddhist monks from other parts of China. I found it strange, that the Amusement Park in the distance would be constructed so close to a Holy-site.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #14

The "flying eaves" of this older pavilion are more ornate.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #15

On either side of the three tiered pavilion are the hotel rooms for visiting monks.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #16

A close-up of the three-tiered pavilion. The pavilion was closed, but I could appreciate the exteriors by talking a long stroll though the grounds, undisturbed.

Jile Si (Temple) with Qiji Futu Pagoda, Photo #17

The temples of China look similar in architecture and layout. This imperial architecture was created partly to show the unity of the Chinese Empire. It is the details, that show the care and love in the construction of these buildings. These makes each building more unique and distinct. Check out the beautiful tile-work and ornamentation of this pavilion, part of the Jile Si Temple.

The Wenmiao Jie or The Confucian Temple in Harbin

The Wenmiao Jie is a large temple in honor of the Master Confucius. Here too, the structures and pavilions resemble that of other imperial architecture around China. In photos, would could think that, if you have visited one, you have visited them all! But their details are more apparent upon closer inspection, and I would not want to miss any of them.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #1

The main entrance to the Confucian Temple is simple and is guarded by two stone lions

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #2

A bus filled with Russian tourists also visited the Confucian Temple at the same time. on this bitter cold day. Here, a few of the Russian ladies take a ciggarette break with me, before they enter the temple grounds.l

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #3

Beyond the entrance stands a special "Pailou" (paifang), a decorative archway. It is made of wood and bears an edifying inscription in honor of Master Confucius. Pailous were often erected at temples, bridges, government offices, parks, and tombs.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #4

I am standing on top of a "moon-bridge", its railing carved from marble-stone. From here, the Pailou points the direction to the temple grounds with its massive pavilions, in honor of China's greatest teacher, Master Confucius.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #5

Of course there is the obligatory photo with Master Confucius.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #6

There are several "stelaes" on the grounds of the Confucian Temple. These are large stone tablets, often carried on the back an animal,(here a giant turtle, an animal that signifies strength and longevity). These up-right stone tablets are found in most temples, public buildings, and palaces. They carry the texts of history or teachings. Being inscribed in stone, the text will stand the test of time and the ages.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #7

The main temple hall is very large, though it was locked on the day of my visit. I was not a happy man, having paid admission fee. But I learned from Confucius to stay calm and accept. The building is colorful and impressive.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #8

Close-up of the exterior of the Confucian Temple in Harbin, the Wenmiao Jie.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #9

Colorful close-up of the exterior of the Confucian Temple in Harbin.

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #10

Colorful details!

Wenmiao Jie: Confucian Temple, Photo #11

There were few visitors to the Confucian Temple on this ohhh! so cold day. But the winter snow-scene gives the pavilion a different look.

14th January 2009

yunyan
non-member comment

wow
Harbin...ice world...fantasyland...thanks show those pic from Harbin,,,, ;)

14th January 2009

karon
non-member comment

It's so cool.

14th January 2009

Correction.
non-member comment

Chairman Mao, in anticipation of war with Russia, dismanteled the huge and wonderful imperial wall and fortifications which surrounded Beijing in the 1950's. --------------------------------------- The leaders decided to demolish the Beijing City wall, because they wanted to build a "NEW" Beijing. This was a vast mistake. Otherwise, Beijing would have its own wonderful citywall like Xi'an. In 1950s, the relations between China and USSR was good. But from aboud 1960, it became worse and worse. At 1969, it reached the worst. Small military confrontations happened in both Northeast and Northwest. USSR put great pressure to the Chinese leaders, bacause USSR had more than 1million army in China-Mongolia border and the China-Mongolia border is only 4-hour away from Beijing. So I guess most Chinese are happy to see the collapse of USSR, just like US.

14th January 2009

About Manchu/Man
non-member comment

Your history knowledge is amazing. But there are some mistakes. Long story, so I just provide some links. There were several key persons creating the earlier history of Manchu. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurhaci http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Taiji http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunzhi_Emperor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongzhen_Emperor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zicheng http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Sangui

14th January 2009

Hans
Hans J. Schneider

Of course it is a long story for the Manchus!
It is not possible to entertain all of the detailed history of thousands of years, and so I appreciate the links. It would take books, as there have been written, to entertain all of these much earlier details. But in fact, the general idea as I have presented them are what has been written in my blog. For further reading, history books will offer year by year accounts of the Manchus. Thank you for the observations and links.

14th January 2009

Hans
Hans J. Schneider

Bricks diverted for both, above- and below ground construction!
It is true, that much of the wall has been used to build a new Beijing by Chairman Mao, and that included a whole underground city for the safety of the citizens of Beijing, and for the leaders, against the expected attack by Stalin. Small battles were already taking place between Russia and China on the northern borders, as the two countries drifted apart from earlier co-operation. And so, believing an attack by the Russians on Beijing would take place, and having little time to lose, Chairman Mao constructed, with millions of the bricks diverted from the ancient city wall, a whole underground city that stretches for miles, that has not yet been fully explored. Visitors are able to take underground tours to visit some of this enormous complex and amazing facilities. Along with thousands of others, I have been one of these visitors.

15th January 2009

Sue
non-member comment

Happy Holidays!
Heh Hans, great blog as usual. Trust that you will thaw out adequately during your annual trip back to Florida! Starting post grad studies next week and have my name down for casual teaching at the major Language Institutes here, and have a place to stay rent free until my place becomes available, so everything going well. Also hunting for good places for my Mum to relocate to on the Gold Coast, so no rest even for the not-so-wicked! Miss you all. Hope Stef gets things sorted for herself. Suexx

15th January 2009

Your reply
non-member comment

It is true, that much of the wall has been used to build a new Beijing by Chairman Mao, and that included a whole underground city for the safety of the citizens of Beijing, and for the leaders, against the expected attack by Stalin. ----------------------------------------- Against Leonid Brezhnev not Stalin(Otherwize do you think the Stalin Park could be named after Stalin?). Actually Mao and Stalin had a good relationship. The relationship between Mao and Nikita Khrushchev was not good, but also not that bad.

16th January 2009

June
non-member comment

An amazing display of ice sculpture show! What takes my breath away is the creators' passion of devotion and the long-lasting solid frieze of that unique environment. What a wonderful dazzling world!

16th January 2009

June
non-member comment

According to memory, there were students' exchange programmes kept going on since the 50s until the early 60s. Photos of beautiful blond Udssr students were even displayed in the windows at the Taizhou Middleschool. How about that? But, people were later told that government of the Udssr had become either terribly corrupted or betrayal against communism: difficult to comprehent!

7th November 2010

Jeans Ping
non-member comment

A happy man
Whenever I see you,you always wear a happy smile, look so kind.I am afriad of talking with foreigners.but when I see you, I always cannot help to talk with you.which is exciting. You make me more confident,and I want to say:Thank you !

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#111 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China ( HARBIN: Part 2, World of Ice & Snow, Stalin Park, Buddhist Temples and Confucian Temple!)

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