17 Comments
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Janaka Stagnaro's avatar

A wonderful sharing, Paul. What a magnificent temple with such detail in the carvings. I love the whisks to be used to brush away the day's troubles. I appreciate how you bring the cultural wonders of China, which has such a rich history, when there is such conflict between China and the U.S.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thank you, Janaka, though in the city and quite cramped still felt peaceful. I believe we always have more in common than separates us.

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Emaline Ashe's avatar

Thanks for this beautiful tour of the Daoist Temple. So different from the Shinto and Buddhist temples I've seen in Japan.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thanks Emaline, Quanzhou is kind of unique in China as well, the style is more commonly seen around South East Asia.

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Henry Dotta's avatar

Those pot trees look very unique. is that natural or is there a process they go through to have the tree distorted and twisted. I wonder :/

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Paul Dotta's avatar

It is a moment by moment struggle between the gardener and the trees that never takes a rest. The tree will always reach for the sky to the sun.

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Khushboo's avatar

Such a beautiful temple. The dust whisk is also a part of Jain temples too, signifying something similar and a few other uses as well.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

That’s so interesting, there must of course be a connection between these two systems, like cousins.

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Debbie Liu's avatar

Those pillars! The incense burner! The lanterns!!!!

That little carving of nine dragons that looks exactly like the one from the Forbidden City!!

Those glorious spacious halls! And Laozi!

Not to mention gold carvings of the Dao De Jing! What an incredible temple you found!

What is a few weeks between existence and nothingness indeed.

Thankyou for this wonderful introduction to this beautiful temple.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

😄 Thank You, Debbie! This temple is a feast for the eyes. It is the same/similar to the Beijing dragons. So you have been to Forbidden City/Palace Museum?

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Peck Gee Chua 蔡佩芝's avatar

Fascinating and inspiring. I enjoy following your journey tracing Taoist sites. Hope I can trace your footsteps in the future!

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thank you, if you visit one of the places, I’m happy to give my input, though I’m not a travel expert consultant. 🤭🙏

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things and nothings's avatar

what an exquisite temple! i have always enjoyed the loose atmosphere surrounding daoist spaces. you really captured each and every wonderful corner of this place.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thank you 🙂 this temple was so peaceful in the crowded city center. Or struggling, it can be hard to tell. My business sense can’t help tingling.

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JonesPJ's avatar

I read this on Medium. Wonderful look into a Daoist temple. I love your reflections on the Daoist versus the Buddhist sensibility.

Thank you for taking me along on this splendid temple tour.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thank you 🙏 x2 😉

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Zail Dugal's avatar

I love your writing as always, but you really out did yourself with the incredible photography, Paul.

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