CHINA
DULE TEMPLE
- a Tang Dynasty wonder -
2002-10-32H - The main hall of the more than 1000 years old Dule Temple in Jixian. (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
In spite of the fact, that the Tang Dynasty only lasted a few hundred years from 618 to 907, it produced a wealth of cultural things of a remarkable high standard.
It was truly a "golden age", not only in its writing and poems, but also in architecture, art, organization,- and not at least Buddhism, which was strongly promoted and flourished during Tang, where the monasteries were great centres of learning and cultural development.
It is now more than 1300 years ago, but still many things from Tang exist to this day.
One such thing is the Dule Temple in Jixian, which was built during Tang, and reconstructed shortly after in year 984. Therefore,- one of the things that makes this temple so truly unique is its age, - more than a 1000 years -, which makes its main hall the oldest still existing multi-storied wooden structure in China!
Also its main gate is the oldest existing gate with palatial roof! The main hall is 23 metres tall and contains a 16 meter high staue of Guanyin,- the Goddess of Mercy.
Also this statue is truly unique, being one of the largest clay figures in China.
Please enjoy my impressions from a visit to the magnificent Dule Temple.
2002-10-39H - Dule Temple - the main hall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-041 - Dule Temple - through the gate, - the magnificent main hall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-42
Dule Temple - through the gate,
- the magnificent main hall -
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-43 -
The bottom part of the 16 meters tall Guanyin statue,
- the head going through a hole in the ceiling to the upper floor.
It's one of China's oldest clay figures -
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-44 - here the upper floor,- showing the fantastic 11-headed Guanyin - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-47 - A look into the temple courtyard behind the main hall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen) (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-51 - A couple of great "Moon Gates" behind the Main Hall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-53 -
Dule Temple - the back side of the Main Hall -
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-56 - A close-up of some construction details from the back side of the old temple - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-58 - Dule Temple
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-059
Dule Temple
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-061 -
Dule Temple - "Solitary Happiness" -
A look through the main gate -
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-062 - Dule Temple - China's oldest multistoried wooden building - (Photo- and copyright - Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-065 - A close up of the main hall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-066 - Dule Temple - "Guan Yin Hall" - (Photo- and copyright: Karstenj Petersen)
2002-10-067 - Dule Temple - "Achieving Perfection" - (Photo- and copyright: by Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-067 - Cute little Jixian Girl - an extra bonus found near the Dule Temple - (Nothing to do with the Dule Temple, - but I could not resist.) (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2021-12-27.001 web - To end this page - another image of Guanjin - NOT from her great, old Dule temple in China, - but from my private collection -