So we have this guidebook to sites in Shenzhen and if you haven't gleaned from the rest of the posts that we have created, there really is not much culturah in Shenzhen. The city is only 30 years old and if anything did exist before 1979, it has been "paved and" someone "put up a parking lot". For real. For folks who know me, you know that I have had an interest in Buddhism for a long time. So you can imagine my delight to read that there was a Buddhist temple on the eastern side of the city. So we took a cab from our lush hotel and ventured to our first Buddhist temple. As we approached the entrance to Fairy Lake, I wondered aloud-- and to Vic's delight-- if there would be only vegetarian fare and if we needed to cover our heads in honor of the great Buddha. Just inside the entrance to the park is a large tour bus. We are beseeched to come aboard, but I have a higher calling, of course, and I decide we will walk to the Great Buddha of Shenzhen. Our first idea that maybe this wasn't a temple was the first pagoda we reached housed various botanical flowers. Nice, but not Buddha. By now there is sniggering from V. and complaining about the walk from R and L. Now, annoyed and determined, I press on to the next spot of Fairy Park, a giant beautiful building -- featured in the photo. When we climb the 108 steps to the top of this pagoda, we are able to view the expanse of Fairy Park. Let's see, there are paddle boats, a golf course, greenery in the shape of China, ice cream shops, more meaningless, but pretty pagodas. And a big fake Buddha.
All right, all right, I say to my laughing family, let's walk out of this park. On the way out, we happen upon stone sculptures of the Chinese zodiac. That is Vic in front of his zodiac symbol, appropriately the Goat.
Maybe there will be a Buddha in Hong Kong...
Sounds like the Disney version of Buddhism. I bet I could get one of my colleagues to write a big ol' paper about it, using lots of foofy words like simulacrum. A guaranteed remedy for sleeplessness, let me tell you... Speaking of, don't you hate it when you wake up at 3:38 in the morning and can't get back to sleep? Not that this happened to me today or anything. Now it's 5:52 a.m. and I have already finished reading a book and been working at my computer for almost 2 hours. Feh.
ReplyDeleteSpotted any little roadside temples? Those were some of my favorite things in Taiwan (the "temples to a very small god" -- including one about the size of an outhouse). I also loved that people left marshmallows for the gods. Either they gods are so ancient they can't chew as well now, or, equipped with the gift of fire, they find marshmallows fun to toast ("Hey Buddha, watch me light this one!").
Good luck on your quest for a real Buddha.
Love,
H