Contributions of the group Buddhist Temples and Monasteries

Pagoda

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:31:32 +0000

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Futuristic city

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:52:06 +0000

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When you first look at this photo, it feels like a glimpse of a futuristic city – clean glass towers, sharp lines, everything designed for business and speed. But the surprise is where I’m actually standing: on the quiet grounds of Bongeunsa Temple.

From here, Asem Tower on the left and The Westin Seoul Parnas on the right aren’t the main subjects so much as a backdrop. In front of me are stone paths, temple roofs, maybe the sound of a small fountain and the smell of incense. The city is right there, yet it feels oddly distant.

That’s what I wanted to capture: the feeling of looking at modern Seoul from a place that moves at a completely different pace. The photo is less about skyscrapers and more about that contrast—watching the “future city” from a pocket of calm where time seems to slow down.

Duc Quang Buddhist Centre

nobody@ipernity.com (John FitzGerald) — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:40:11 +0000

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London, Ontario.

The PiP at top left shows another view of the site.

Duc Quang Buddhist Centre

nobody@ipernity.com (John FitzGerald) — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 18:39:14 +0000

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London, Ontario.

I have been unable to find out whose work this is.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Stupa, Niagara Falls, Ontario

nobody@ipernity.com (John FitzGerald) — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 17:29:43 +0000

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More Niagara Falls today. This is the World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple, or Cham Shan Temple, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It is 6 km/4 mi downriver from the Falls, but still within the city.

More about the temple here:
www.visiting-niagara-falls.com/chamshantemple.html

I posted a similar view on Flickr years ago, but this is a different shot. I tried eliminating all the negative space here but decided I lliked it this way.

Sule Pagoda: Yangon’s Ancient Heart & Historic Landmark

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:37:40 +0000

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Sule Pagoda sits at the center of Yangon, Myanmar, and is believed to be over 2,000 years old, with a unique octagonal design that distinguishes it from other Burmese stupas. It has long served as both a sacred Buddhist site and a historic gathering place for major political movements in the country.

Embraced by Time: The Buddha’s Serenity in Bodhi Roots

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:06:33 +0000

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Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya, built in the late 14th century, was once a royal monastery and spiritual center of the old Siamese capital. In 1767, Burmese invaders destroyed much of the city and decapitated countless Buddha statues, leaving the area abandoned for many years. The iconic Buddha head, now gently held by the roots of a bodhi tree, is thought to have been left behind after this devastation and slowly enveloped by the growing roots over time. Today, the Buddha head in tree roots is a powerful symbol of Ayutthaya’s resilience and a highlight for visitors at this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Giant lanterns 연등

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:29:11 +0000

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These photos showcase modern lantern sculptures displayed at a Korean Buddhist temple during the annual Lotus Lantern Festival, celebrated around Buddha’s Birthday in May. The scene blends cultural tradition with contemporary creativity: large effigy figures, such as children on bicycles and stylized trees, pair playful everyday motifs with classic Buddhist symbolism.

The installations hold deeper significance in today’s Korea. They echo traditional Buddhist ritual—lantern-lighting as a symbol of wisdom and enlightenment—while also serving as vibrant, accessible public art. By portraying relatable themes like childhood and nature alongside sacred figures, they invite a broader audience, especially families and the younger generation, to engage with Buddhist heritage in a joyful, communal setting. Such displays exemplify how Korean Buddhism has transformed its visual culture to foster inclusivity and dialogue with urban society, bridging ancient practices and contemporary life through festive art and shared experience.

Wan = infinity (or 10,000)

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:11:27 +0000

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Alright travellers, buckle up for a symbol safari! See that swirling square, the 'Wan' (卍/卐)? Forget its troubled history elsewhere; here in China, this ancient symbol is pure good vibes: think infinity, endless luck, and prosperity flowing like a never-ending river. It’s seriously old, dating back millennia, and got a major boost when Buddhism arrived.

You'll spot this auspicious motif everywhere – decorating temples (sometimes right on Buddha's chest!), woven into gorgeous 'Wan Shou Jin' fabrics wishing 'ten thousand years of life', and carved into furniture. It’s like China’s ultimate good luck charm. Locals might find it amusing when foreigners get flustered, confusing it with that other symbol, so chill – it’s all positive here!

Fun trivia detour: Legend whispers of a dude named Wan Hu, maybe the world's first (and possibly last) rocket-chair astronaut, who aimed for the stars centuries ago... reportedly ending with a bang. So, when you see the Wan, just know it's wishing you infinite good fortune on your adventures!

Hang it up/down!

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:09:20 +0000

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The Hengshan Hanging Temple (Hanging Monastery, Xuankong Temple, 懸空寺; Xuánkōng Sì), located about 60 km southeast of Datong, China, in the Shanxi province, is one of the world’s forgotten wonders. Clinging to a crag of Hengshan mountain, in apparent defiance of gravity, it consists of 40 rooms linked by a dizzying maze of passageways.

The temple is said to have been built by a monk named Liao Ran during the late Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and restored in 1900. It was constructed by drilling holes into the cliffside into which the poles that hold up the temples are set.

Interestingly, the temple is dedicated to not just one religion, but three, with Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism all practiced within the temple and represented in 78 statues and carvings throughout the temple.

www.atlasobscura.com/places/hanging-temple-hengshan

Kawakarpo & Prayer Flags

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:08:43 +0000

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Inside the reflection of a stone tablet

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:22:27 +0000

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no filters, double exposition or postproces used

Incense nonsens, but a nice view

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:14:44 +0000

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The taoist temples, crouching surrounded by highrise buildings and big roads in Beijing create true oases for our souls.

The structure of a natural stone makes it even more perfect

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 12:45:55 +0000

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Gal Viharaya in Polonnaruwa is a rock temple where four large Buddha statues have been carved directly into a single granite cliff. These figures include two seated Buddhas, a tall standing Buddha, and a long reclining Buddha, all lined up along the same rock face. Together they create a quiet, contemplative space that once formed part of a bigger monastery and is still visited today by pilgrims and travellers who come to pray, make offerings, or simply sit and reflect.

Giant Buddha (Take 3)

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:48:38 +0000

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The Leshan Giant Buddha isn’t just a statue—it’s a marvel of faith, legend, and ancient engineering. Carved over 1,200 years ago from a cliff where three powerful rivers meet, this 71-metre-tall Buddha gazes serenely across the water toward sacred Mount Emei. Legend says the statue was built to calm treacherous currents that claimed countless ships, and remarkably, the stone removed during construction actually changed the river’s flow, making it safer for travellers.

The story behind the Buddha is as dramatic as its size. The monk Haitong, who initiated the project, was so devoted that he reportedly gouged out his own eyes to keep corrupt officials from stealing the funds. The construction spanned 90 years and three generations, and the statue’s hidden drainage system—ingeniously carved into its hair and robes—has helped preserve it through centuries of storms and floods.

Stand at its feet and you’ll feel dwarfed by its sheer scale—each ear is 7 meters long, and a person could sit comfortably on a single toenail. Today, the Leshan Giant Buddha stands as the world’s largest stone Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inviting awe and wonder from all who visit.

Passing a stone cairn, enjoying a small refreshment

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 20:47:09 +0000

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In Himalays, the stacks of carefully placed stones translated in english as "cairns" are often aligned beside rivers and at mountain alters, making the path-markers on a trail. While this is true for Nepal as well, cairns hold a much more cultural meaning than just direction-pointers. Both Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism, two major local religions, have philosophies that indicate every sentient being is connected to the universe. Many cultural symbolisms occur in the form of stones in old legends,including the local shamanistic traditions.Cairns in the Himalayas are also often ornamented with prayer flags, and the stones are often arranged in a certain way, with some even worshipped as altars to the gods.

Stripes and circles

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:09:30 +0000

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Tu'er Ye - a Chinese gay deity

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:02:29 +0000

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Tu’er Ye, or the Rabbit God, is a charming clay figurine from Beijing, instantly recognisable by its human body and rabbit’s head. Traditionally, it’s a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival, embodying wishes for happiness and protection. Yet, what many don’t know is that Tu’er Ye also has a fascinating connection to LGBTQ+ history in China.

In some folk traditions, Tu’er Ye is celebrated as a patron of homosexual love. This association stems from Qing dynasty Beijing, where the Rabbit God became a discreet symbol for gay men seeking companionship and acceptance in a conservative society. Shrines dedicated to Tu’er Ye once dotted the city, offering a rare space for same-sex couples to pray for love and happiness—much like their heterosexual counterparts.

Today, Tu’er Ye stands as both a delightful festival mascot and a quiet icon of queer history, reminding us that the desire for love and acceptance transcends time and tradition. Whether perched on a festival stall or tucked away in a private shrine, the Rabbit God’s gentle smile continues to inspire hope, diversity, and a sense of belonging in the heart of Beijing.

Tooth relic

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 13:14:32 +0000

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What's the size of these feet?

nobody@ipernity.com (m̌ ḫ) — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 12:52:23 +0000

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Buddhas feet at Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka