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Hanging Temple


Hanging Temple
Photo Information
Copyright: David Lambert (Lanbowen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 374 W: 53 N: 379] (2944)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-23
Categories: Architecture
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-28 4:45
Viewed: 612
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This one is taken in June, but I went through those pictures and thought... hey this one is worth showing. Hope you think so to

David

From: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/

Hanging Monastery stands at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Hunyuan County, and 65 kilometers (40 miles) from downtown Datong City. Since it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground, it is called Hanging Monastery.

Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than 1400 years. The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so many years? Hanging Monastery is an architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the rock in back became its support. Seen from below, Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same scene as other temples.

Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany, and Italy, come to see the monastery. In their words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes mechanics, aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare. The monastery and everything it symbolizes embodies a great cultural achievement of Chinese people.

The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Inside the monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni, Confucius and Laotzu appear together, which is unusual. There are 40 halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. The features are vividly carved.

Why build a monastery like this? Location is the first reason; building a monastery on the cliff could shield it from floods. In addition, the mountain peak protects it from rain and snow; and the mountain around it also diminishes damage from long-time sunshine. The second reason is that the builders followed a principle in Taoism: no noises, including those from rooster crowing and dog baying; so from the upper ground, all noises drop away.
ttreen, Ejtaan, Silke, eosnut, MLINES has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • ttreen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1407 W: 130 N: 3826] (15902)
  • [2007-11-28 6:05]

Hi David,
WOW that is totally amazing.. I was not sure what I was going to see when opening the TN! Very nice colors... I keep looking and see more details!

Tricia

  • Great 
  • Fons Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1299 W: 2 N: 202] (15594)
  • [2007-11-28 8:04]

Een wonder hoe ze zo', mooie gebouwen in de bergen aanbrengen
mooi zicht

  • Great 
  • jawa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1372 W: 0 N: 1] (12003)
  • [2007-11-28 8:11]

Hallo David
Een zeer mooie weergave van die kloosters.
Mooie compositie in een mooie kleur.
Gr Jos

Magnificent structure, and well captured. Your composition shows its precarious position on the cliff face, as well as the intricate and careful construction that went into it.
The details of the people on its walkways are a great touch also. Excellent work!
Rew

  • Great 
  • Ejtaan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 977 W: 99 N: 2253] (11357)
  • [2007-11-28 11:48]

I have seen pics of this before David and I must say this sure looks like a scary place!
Not the place itself, but the way it is glued to the vertical rocks! An amazing place.

Nice compo and fine colors.

Cheers,
Anneke

  • Great 
  • linus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1476 W: 10 N: 738] (10763)
  • [2007-11-28 19:12]

Hi David, What an amazing place. You have really captured the wonder of this incredible place. Thanks.
Sunil

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2847 W: 263 N: 5947] (23588)
  • [2007-11-30 1:58]

Fabulous PoV, colours, composition and details -- and the notes are outstanding
TFS
silke
:D

  • Great 
  • eosnut Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 164 N: 1399] (10095)
  • [2007-12-01 2:14]

Hi David,
What an astonishing sight, and what an incredible feat to build there and to last for so long.
Your point of view shows how precarious the buildings are fixed to the mountainside.
Well seen and well captured.
Cheers,
Pete.

  • Great 
  • MLINES Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 96 N: 1023] (8476)
  • [2008-02-10 13:00]

Hi David, Amazing to think that is structure can survive so many hundreds of years when the ones we build today will be very unlikely to do so. The building against such a stark cliff is a spectacular structure. Good perspective for this result. TFS. Murray.

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