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Fun with dancing!


Fun with dancing!
Photo Information
Copyright: Hans Spruijt (GreenBaron) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3175 W: 935 N: 11437] (48794)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-14
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture, Action
Camera: Minolta Z1
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: China 2005
Theme(s): Travelling China 2005, Religious houses in the world, Impressions from China [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-09-30 3:31
Viewed: 864
Points: 7
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Xi’an
This picture I took in the early morning while strolling through Xi’an on my way to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In China it is quite common to dance in groups on places like this small square next to the pagoda. The music from a Chinese type ‘ghetto blaster’ is terrible (in my spoiled western opinion of course) but seeing these ladies dancing is wonderful. Without any shyness they are performing a graceful dance. No dancers did pay any attention to the flabbergasted tourist from Holland. My goodness what a concentration!

Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Originally built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang.
Xuanzang started off from Chang'an (the ancient Xi’an), along the Silk Road and through deserts, finally arriving in India, the cradle of Buddhism. Enduring 17 years and traversing 100 countries, he obtained Buddha figures, 657 kinds of sutras, and several Buddha relics. Having gotten the permission of Emperor Gaozong (628-683), Xuanzang, as the first abbot of Da Ci'en Temple, supervised the building of a pagoda inside it. With the support of royalty, he asked 50 hierarchs into the temple to translate Sanskrit in sutras into Chinese, totaling 1,335 volumes, which heralded a new era in the history of translation. Based on the journey to India, he also wrote a book entitled 'Pilgrimage to the West' in the Tang Dynasty, to which scholars attached great importance.
As for the reason why it is called Big Wild Goose Pagoda, there is a legend. According to ancient stories of Buddhists, there were two branches, for one of which eating meat was not a taboo. One day, they couldn't find meat to buy. Upon seeing a group of big wild geese flying by, a monk said to himself: 'Today we have no meat. I hope the merciful Bodhisattva will give us some.' At that very moment, the leading wild goose broke its wings and fell to the ground. All the monks were startled and believed that Bodhisattva showed his spirit to order them to be more pious. They established a pagoda where the wild goose fell and stopped eating meat. Hence it got the name 'Big Wild Goose Pagoda'. (text from China Travel Guide)

PS-Talk
- adjusted curves (slightly more red en blue)
- increased contrast (+10)
- Cropped
- Framed
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To waterdroplet: Job..GreenBaron 1 10-01 17:48
To Refugee: CriticsGreenBaron 1 10-01 03:20
To Josine: Bedankt...GreenBaron 1 10-01 02:37
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Critiques [Translate]

Hoi Hans
Foto is wel speciaal en een mooie hoek(zo heet dat geloof ik) maar hij is wat vaal/flets. Groetjes
Josine

Faded? I think not. An effect caused by haze I feel Hans. Love the bright strip of red and an excellent perspective of the pagoda. TFS,
David
Many thanks for your comment on
Through the Fog

The boat is a very old launch Hans with a modern radar perched on top. All the coloured bits at the stern are from another vesssel.

Hi Hans,
Really nice shot, with interesting POV and soft, attractive colours. The DOF helps bring both the bg and the fg to our attention.

Good job :)

  • Great 
  • Serabi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 118 W: 0 N: 19] (1641)
  • [2006-10-02 19:23]

Nice capture! I visited this place just last April. You brought back my memories :) Thanks for sharing and for your kind comments on my pictures :)

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