The answer to an age old buddhist riddle

from savage chickens

Around the base of the Lamp of Wisdom are the 12 auspicious animal birth signs of the Chinese Calendar. This is the Ox which is 1973.

Base-plate on the Lamp of Wisdom.

The Lamp of Wisdom

In the centre of the upper courtyard (as can be seen from earlier posts) is the Lamp of Wisdom. There is some incredibly elaborate scrollwork around the lamp, again set dead-centre of the courtyard in the middle of the square formed by the crossing of the north-south and east-west paths.

Hall of Celestial Kings (different text)

Hall of Celestial Kings

Hall of Ksitigarbha (The Bell Tower)

Hall of Bhaisajyaguru (The Medicine Master)

The Hall of Avalokitesvara (The Goddess of Mercy)

Around the edges of the upper courtyard are various rooms with elaborate shrines and displays in with scenes from the history and worship od Buddhism. You are not allowed to take any pictures of the actual rooms themselves so I had to make do with taking pictures of the plaques outside which expplained what the rooms represented or showed.

West view of the upper/inner courtyard

Southview of the upper/inner courtyard

East view of the upper/inner courtyard

Northview of the upper/inner courtyard

The northwest lotus pool with the dragonhead fountains coming in from the sides of the pool. The pools themselves are the shape of two overlapping squares. Everything about the outer courtyard is symmetrical.

One of the bonsai trees by the northeast lotus pool

One of the Sutra Pillars. Stupidly I took the pic from this side so you can't see the engraved prayers but there is some lovely scrollwork around the bottom of the pillar.

Southwest and northwest quadrants showing lotus pools

Southeast and northeast quadrands showing lotus pools

The southside shot of the outer courtyard show ing the main entrance to the nunnery. In the four quadrants to the southeast, southwest, northeast and northwest are lotus pools with floating lillies and dragonhead fountaind puring in to keep the water fresh and clean. When you stand next to the lamp in the centre the sound of rushing water fills the air and drowns out the sounds of the city from all around. From down in the courtyard the sides of the pagoda roofs are high enough that yiu cant see any of the high rise buildings either and you could be in the middle of the countryside for all that you can see or hear.

A longer shot showing the entrance to the inner courtyard with the lamp in the centre. The two white pillars on either side are Sutra Pillars, in scribed with buddhist prayers.