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Published: August 24th 2008
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this is the first thing you see upon entering the temple - the exterior of the Great Treasure HallSaturday afternoon started with a cab ride into a part of Shanghai we hadn't yet been in the search of a dance studio I'd researched while in Canada. Jazz du Funk is where I'll be keeping up my dancing while here in Shanghai. It sounds like a great assortment of classes for a mix of expats/locals, at a slightly higher price than I'd pay in Toronto, but not exorbitant ($15 for an individual class, monthly passes are cheaper). I definitely need an outlet for my dancing while here, and hope to also study chinese dance, tai chi, and kung fu! I'm sure that once I start these lessons I'll have much to write about on them.
Post Jazz du Funk Ollie and I found our way via taxi to the Jade Buddha Temple. One thing that's great about Shanghai is how such a large city is so cheaply and easily navigated by taxi. We were at the Temple in 10 minutes, and after paying the 20RMB entrance fee (approx. $3 Canadian) we were transported to an earlier China, around 1910 in the Song Dynasty. I won't say much about the temple, I'll let the photographs speak for themselves, but I'll
Photo 2
inside the Hall of Heavenly Kings give a few descriptions. This buddhist temple was somewhere to go and reflect. Sure there were other people around (majority were locals in prayer) and the obligatory gift shops with pushy sales people, but the temple itself was mesmerizing, and the amount of locals in prayer simply added to the authenticity and spiritual feeling. It was the sort of place where you are moved by your surroundings. Quite a large complex, there was a main courtyard where the locals of all ages came to worship, bowing to the gods while swathing themselves in incense. There were multiple halls full of enormous and artistically stunning gold, wood and jade statues, buddhas, kings, etc. Standing in the middle of a hall crowded with hundreds of edifices I couldn't help but ponder life and spirituality. The temple was active with resident monks, who wandered throughout the different rooms chanting and playing musical instruments. It was funny to see the monks adjusted to the 21st century - one chatted away on his cellphone! The one room that really moved me was where the famous Jade Buddha statue was housed. Unfortunately (and also fortunately for preservation!) photography wasn't allowed, so you'll just have to imagine
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locals in prayer with incense a dimly lit and quiet room, ambient music lightly playing in the background, incense burning. A massive jade buddha sits erect at one end of the room, a peaceful expression on his face, an altar littered with sacrifices and gifts of fruit and incense underneath his feet. Such a peaceful room. So welcoming to find some peace in such a busy city!
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