Temple of the City God, Hangzhou, China

Temple of the City God

Pictures from around Hangzhou.

Copyright © 1998-2005, chuck @ china, chuck~@llanson
All rights reserved.

http://chake.chinatefl.com/cc13d.html

Temple of the City God and city wall in Shanghai

Temple of the City God and city wall in Shanghai

© 2004

http://postcard.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/Browsing.php?Start=390

Temple of the City God, Pingyao City, Shanxi, China

Pingyao's Temple of the City God was built during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127).

The architectural style is Taoist involving the use of blue and green tiles that confirm the high level of importance the temple had for the city.

A double-eave wooden arch in front of the Temple of the City God, Pingyao City, Shanxi.

Travel China Guide

Copyright© 1998-2006 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.

Hsia Hai City God Temple, Taiwan

Hsia Hai City God Temple was integral to the development of Tihua Street.

PHOTO: COURTESY YANG LIEN-FU, HE SHANG CHOU WORKSHOP

Taipei Times

Hsinchu City god Temple (Cheng Huang Temple)

Hsinchu City god Temple (Cheng Huang Temple)

Hsinchu City god Temple (Cheng Huang Temple) is regarded as the highest-ranking of all City God temples in Taiwan, due to the superior spiritual power of its City God in protecting the town.

Copyright ©2002 Tourism Bureau, R.O.C (Taiwan) All Rights Reserved.

http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/attractions/scenic_spots.jsp?id=447#

The Jade Emperor

The Jade Emperor sits in a cloud of insense.

Temple to the Jade Emperor in Saigon, Vietnam.

In Vietnam, Taoist thought is suberseded by concrete interaction between man and more tangible deities representing the forces of nature (animism). Ruling the spirits, genies and demons is the Jade Emperor, while Eight Immortals, who drank the elixir of immortality, intercede on behalf of the faithful.
http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/StudentResources/art/southeastasia/vietnam/html/tao.html

The cave dwelling of Lu Dongbin

The cave dwelling of Lu Dongbin on Sacred Mount Tai.

Together with Qufu, Confucius' birthplace, Taishan (1545 m.) is by far the best sight in Shandong Province, with a huge display of temples, towers, pavilions, caves and inscribed stones.

The temple and the cave dwelling of the immortal Lu Dongbin are on Taishan.

Copyright © 1998-2003 Diana Lavarini & Anna Del Franco.

http://www.sinophilia.org/china/luoghitao1.htm

Sacred Mount Tai

The Taishan (Mount Tai) is the most important of the five Taoist sacred mountains, now target of hords of pilgrims and tourists.

At the top, the Jade Emperor Temple.

http://www.sinophilia.org/china/luoghitao1.htm

Copyright © 1998-2003 Diana Lavarini & Anna Del Franco.

Jade Emperor

Under the Taoist gods, there are four Heavenly Emperors respected as Yu Huang (Jade Emperor) who governs other deities, and the other three who help him. Their positions and costumes indicate their status.

Yuquan Taoism Temple.

Copyright© 1998-2006 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/gansu/tianshui/yuquan_temple/0003049.htm

The Jade Emperor

The Jade Emperor , known informally by children and commoners as Grandpa Heaven and known formally as the Pure August Jade Emperor , is the ruler of Heaven according to Chinese mythology and among the most important gods of the Chinese Taoist pantheon.

He and his court are part of a celestial bureaucracy ruling over every aspect of human and animal life.

http://www.natural-tribal-designs.com/index.php

http://www.natural-tribal-designs.com/product_info.php/products_id/311

Taoist God - Dai Miao, Taian, China

Taoist God - Dai Miao, Taian.

Photo by Bill Irwin.

http://www.billirwinphotography.com/taishan.htm

Temple of Heavenly Blessing - Dai Miao - Taian, China

Temple of Heavenly Blessing - Dai Miao - Taian.

The pilgrims path begins in the town of Taian at the sprawling Dai Miao Temple.

Photo by Bill Irwin

http://www.billirwinphotography.com/taishan.htm

Pure August Jade Emperor, Yü Huang Shang Ti

Pure August Jade Emperor, Yü Huang Shang Ti.

Also known as Tien Kung, he is the supreme deity of folk religion.

The Jade Emperor dwelt in the Jade Castle of Abstraction, high above the earth and the thirty-three heavens, according to some accounts; or according to others, on the Mountain of Jade in the K'un Lun range. Here, on the shore of the Jade Lake, grew a Jade Tree, which measured three hundred arm lengths across and whose red jade fruit conferred the boon of eternal life.

Images of the Jade Emperor normally show him seated in imperial robes, his flattopped crown notable for the short strings of pearls that dangle from the front. He holds a short, flat tablet in both hands before his chest.

http://www.holymtn.com/jade/JadeEmperor.htm

Copyright © 1996-2001 Holy Mountain Trading Company. All rights reserved.

Jade Emperor

The Jade Emperor (Pinyin: Yù Huáng or Yù Dì), known informally by children and commoners as Heavenly Grandfather (Tiān Gōng) and known formally as the Pure August Jade Emperor or August Personage of Jade (Yu Huang Shangdi or Yu Huang Dadi), is the ruler of Heaven according to Chinese mythology and among the most important gods of the Chinese Taoist pantheon.

It was said that the Jade Emperor was originally the crown prince of the kingdom of Pure Felicity and Majestic Heavenly Lights and Ornaments... After his father died, he ascended the throne. He made sure that everyone in his kingdom found peace and contentment, after that he told his ministers that he wished to cultivate Dao on the Bright and Fragant Cliff. After 1,750 trials, each trial lasting for 120,976 years, he attained Golden Immortality. After another a hundred million years of cultivation, he finally became the Jade Emperor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Emperor

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Da Yu's Mausoleum

Da Yu's Mausoleum

Da Yu's Mausoleum, a temple and mausoleum complex in honor of China's "great grandfather" Emperor Yu, took over 100 years to erect.

Six kilometers southeast of Shaoxing stands an ancient complex that comprises a tomb, temple and memorial hall built to commemorate Da Yu. It is named Da Yu's Mausoleum after the ancient Chinese hero who conquered a disastrous flood.

http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2004-09/14/content_60263_2.htm

Copyright © 2003 Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. All rights reserved

Taoist Talisman

Taoist Talisman

TALISMANS
Chinese talismans have the same function as Ba Gua - to ward off evil spirits, and are often small pieces of paper or cloth with prayers or mantras written on them. Buddhist talismans are small pieces of yellow cloth with sacred writings from Buddhist scriptures and a picture of Buddha painted on it. Taoist talismans are also made of yellow cloth, but instead contain mantras from the I-Ching. Talismans can be worn or hung on doors. It is particularly common for children to wear talismans as it is believed that they are too young to fight off evil energies by themselves.

http://www.sfchinatownghosttours.com/home.html?fengshui.html&1

Taoist Charm

Taoist charm from www.lib.ntu.edu.tw/

This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhengyi_Dao

Ancient Taoist Talisman

Ancient Taoist talisman designed to vitalize the brain. From the Tao-tsang; Section 2: The Cave of Mysteries; Wieger index number 543-41:22b.

The Tao-tsang, also known as Taoist Canon, is the largest collection of Taoist sacred, philosophical, magical and alchemical texts. It contains texts and images from both major branches of Taoism: Tao-chia (the so-called "philosophical and mystical branch") and Tao-chiao (the so-called "religious, alchemical branch").

Many works of the canon date back to the 3rd/5th century, and it was first printed in 1190.

http://www.yoniversum.nl/pandora/taomagic.html

The Pace of Yu from Secret Essentials on Assembling the Perfected of the Most High

The Great Yu in prehistory was the chief of a tribe that lived along the Yellow River about 5,000 years ago. He was said to have great shamanic powers: First, legend has it that his father, when near death, turned into a bear and when his belly was opened, he brought out his son, Yu, the great. Yu was said to change himself into a bear at will and throughout his life he walked with the "bear's gait." This transformation and dance became known thereafter as the "Pace of Yu." Yu frequently traveled to the North Star to overhear the celestial will after he had shape-shifted into a bear. The dance itself is known to be at least 10,000 years old.
From: The Online Journal of the I Ching, Yi Jing

Yuan Miaozong
The Pace of Yu from Secret Essentials on Assembling the Perfected of the Most High for the Relief of the State and Deliverance of the People, from the Taoist Canon of the Zhentong Reign
Ming dynasty, Zhengtong reign
1444
woodblock-printed book, ink on paper
35.4 x 12.7 cm
From: Artnet
©2006 artnet - The art world online. All rights reserved.

The Chinese Dark Lord of the North - Xuan Wu

Very ancient drawings of a black snake and tortoise together symbolize the Dark Lord. These reptilian creatures, the snake and tortoise, were probably themselves worshipped or were powerful medicine to help in overcoming one's enemies. From Shang times onward, the flag bearing this symbol was part of the king's color guard.

The Chinese Dark Lord of the North - Xuan Wu

The Dark Lord of the North or Xuan Wu Da Di is a deity that comes from the pre- history of shamanic times (c. 6000 BC). In relatively modern Chinese prehistory (c. 1200 BC) the Dark Lord has become the human figure of a warrior with wild, unruly black hair, dressed in the primitive clothing of the tribal peoples of Neolithic times.

The Online Journal of the I Ching, Yi Jing

Taoist Master Zhang Daoling

The sacred image of Taoist Master Zhang Daoling.

The Long Hu Mountain in Jiangxi province, China, is where the temple of legendary Taoist Master Zhang Daoling is situated; widely believed to be a location with one of the best Fengshui in the whole of China.

From:
Ultimate Way Fengshui Web

Chang Tao-Ling

Zhang Daoling (张道陵, Wade Giles: Chang Tao-ling), also called "Zhang Ling." Eastern Han dynasty (2nd Century CE) Taoist hermit who founded the Zhengyi Mengwei Tianshi Dao ("Tradition of the Celestial Master of the Mighty Commonwealth of Orthodox Oneness") sect of Taoism , also known as the "Tianshi Dao" ("Way of the Celestial Masters") sect or the "Wudou Mi Dao" ("Way of Five Bushels of Rice") sect.According to tradition, in 142 CE, Lao Zi (Lao Tse) himself appeared to Zhang Daoling on Mount Heming, and informed the hermit that the world was coming to an end, to be followed by an era of Great Peace.

Image of Chang Tao-Ling from "The Mythology of All Races, Vol. 8" by John Ferguson & Masaharu Anesaki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Daoling

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (see Copyrights for details).

Zhang Daoling (Patriarch of the Celestial Masters)

Zhang Daoling (Patriarch of the Celestial Masters)
Celestial Master Zhang dispels the Five Poisons

From the:
Taoist Culture and Research Center

http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daoism/eminent-philosophers&accomplished-daoists/img146a.asp

Tianshidong Monastery, Chingsheng Mountain, China

Daoist ceremony at Tianshidong Monastery
on Chingsheng Mountain.

From the website of Ann Furniss.

Mt.Wudang Map

Mt.Wudang Map
Mt.Wudang is one of the famous mountains to the Taoists. It is 400 km in circumference and has such natural sceneries as 72 peaks, 24 ravines, 11 caves, 9 springs, 3 pools, 9 wells, 10 rocks and 9 terraces.

From Maps of China.

Three Pure Ones on Wudang Shan, China

Alle weiteren auch noch so kleinen Tempel verlangen Eintrittsgelder und es gibt eine Vielzahl von Tempeln.

http://www.shaolin-wushu.de/main_fr.htm?wudang_shan.htm

Xuan Wu Dadi (Dark Lord of the North)

Xuan Wu Dadi (Dark Lord of the North) Lord Xuan Wu (variously called The Dark Lord of the North, The Lord of True Martiality, the North Lord Xuan Wu, Lord Black, The Lord of Black Martiality, etc.) is one of the most widely revered Gods of traditional China, ranking in popularity behind only Guan Yin and Guan Gong. The God is usually depicted in black robes, holding a sword and sometimes wearing a jade belt. His long black hair flows freely down his back. Lord Xuan Wu is always depicted with a tortoise and a snake, sometimes beneath one of his feet. He is revered as a powerful God, able to control the elements (worshipped by those wishing to avoid fires), and capable of great magic. He is particularly revered by martial artists, and is the 'patron saint' of Wudang Mountain in China's Hubei Province, where he allegedly attained immortality. The name "wudang" roughly translates as "only Xuan Wu deserves it."

http://www.taoarts.com/statuarywood.html

©Tao Arts, 2003 - 2006.

The Five Idols in the Holy of Holies in the Joss Temple of Lung Gong

Title: Chinatown, S. F. Cal. The Five Idols in the Holy of Holies in the Joss Temple of Lung Gong. Copyright 1887 by I. W. Taber, Pho. San Francisco

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb9v19p053/

Shrine Interior with altar, 1905 California

Title: [Interior with altar(?)

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb5b69n72z/

Shrine interior with altar, California, 1905

Title: [Interior with altar(?)

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb5b69n72z/

Chinatown, S. F. Cal. Joss Temple of Lung Gong

Title:Chinatown, S. F. Cal. The incense table in the Joss Temple of Lung Gong

Owning Institution:The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb938nb39b/

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

Chinatown, S. F. Cal. The Joss Temple

Title: Chinatown, S. F. Cal. The Joss Temple

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb596nb0k3/

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

Symbolic Carving - Joss House, California

Title: Symbolic Carving - Joss House

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb0c6000b8/

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

Shrine - Joss House, California

Title: Shrine - Joss House

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb5c6003th/

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

Chinese Josh House, S. F., Cal.

Title: Chinese Josh House, S. F., Cal.

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

[Ed note: I'd like to find out the name of this temple and if it still stands in San Francisco. I suspect it's the one that fell during the 1906 earthquake and fire - JO]

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb0h4n9742/

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

Joss - Private House, California

Title: Joss - Private House

Owning Institution: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000; http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

More information about this image

[Editorial Note: This deity is likely Guan Gong, as the halberd looks a lot like his.]

The Online Archive of California (OAC) is an initiative of the California Digital Library
© 2006 by The Regents of The University of California

Temple in Los Angeles

"Chinatown Temple (廟)I visited a temple on the outskirts of Chinatown on Broadway. This temple has been there since as far back as I can remember, which is the early 80s. After nearly 20 years of mystery, I finally took a look out of curiosity. The temple looks so out of place, nestled between an ugly apartment complex, a crummy commerical building, and Elysian Park behind it. I have never really paid much attention to temples until I came back from Beijing, but now I see they are litered here and there all over L.A.. along with several Buddhist monasteries."

From the blog of the ABC:

http://theabc.typepad.com/my_weblog/