R Leung
Google
The wood, the atmosphere and the sculptures - everything is as old as it can get. When I was there, several young artists were transferring all the above onto their paper and canvas.
Don’t miss the clay statues. When you take a first look at the celestial guards and gods, they may appear to be the typical menacing looking ones found in many temples.
Upon closer look, you will start to realize that some in this temple are not only more menacing but more scary. They are meant to be as they are to bring across the message that crime doesn’t pay, that we must not do harm to others or else we would be trialed and condemned to hell. There is a series of life-sized officials of hell sitting in one room. Though it was a bright sunny day when I visited the temple, once I stepped indoor and was confronted by these officials, shivers were instantly sent down my spine. Still, I kept it up and tried my best to read the labels and explanations of these well-crafted pieces of art.
In another building, I saw hundreds of intricately sculpted figures. They occupied whole walls, from floor to ceiling. They were in clusters, at different heights, each telling a story, a legend or a real event in Chinese history. Too bad only some of these scenes are explained with sufficient details in writing while others just have a title. But then, if one has a cell phone and the time, one can Google the story and history instantly.
Pay the temple a visit. It’s a different experience.
