Elizabeth and Blair tour a temple March 7, 2011

Today Aunt Blair and I poked around Jing'an Temple. This is a major Shanghai landmark and one of the few temples I haven't visited yet. Something new for both of us! Yes, I've done my research for your benefit and mine. Here we go:

Wow. Hold that cut and paste. There is hardly anything on Wikipedia. Let me try another site.

No luck there either.

Third time's a charm:

Jing'an Temple predates city's birth (Shanghai Daily) Updated: 2004-11-01 09:24 The Jing'an Temple, the most famous landmark in Jing'an District, is known  as the oldest shrine in the city, dating back even further than the city itself. Constructed in 247 AD, it boasts a history of 1,757 years, meaning it was built  more than 1,000 years before the official beginning of the city of Shanghai in  1292. Originally located beside Suzhou Creek, it was relocated to its current site in  1216 during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). In 1912, the country's first Buddhism organization was established at the site.  During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was converted into a plastics factory. It was converted back to a temple following reconstruction in 1983. Unlike its name, which means "peace and tranquility" in Chinese, the small,  garishly decorated temple is always crowded and lively. Located on bustling Nanjing Road W., which was once known as Jing'an Temple  Road, the place is surrounded by towering office buildings and luxurious  shopping centers. The temple is currently undergoing the second phase of a major renovation,  which involves an area of more than 17,000 square meters. The design for the temple strictly adheres to the style of traditional Chinese  Buddhist temples. The Precious Hall of the Great Hero, or the main hall, is currently under  construction. When completed, it is expected to be four to five stories tall. The wooden architecture will be an example of the typical Song Dynasty style.  One of the best antiquities in the temple is a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) copper  bell, known as the Hongwu Bell, which weighs about 3.5 tons. It is now housed on the second-floor base of the main hall. To the east of the main hall is the Guanyin Hall, a place for people to pay  tribute to the Goddess of Mercy. The rare female Buddha is one of the most  universally beloved deities in Buddhism. In the center of the hall is a statue of the goddess made out of camphor wood.  Standing on a lotus-shaped base, it is about 6.2 meters tall and weights about  five tons. Opposite to the hall is the Jade Buddha Hall, where a 3.8-meter jade Buddha  sits in the center. It is also the largest sitting jade Buddha in the country. There, now I know what we saw. Nothing explains the huge pillar with the lions that stands outside the temple. Please feel free to submit your own ideas.

My attempt to photograph lion pillar and street-side incense burner? lamp? bird cage?

Again, I welcome your suggestions.

A door (duh!) to the temple,

but not one that is used.

The door we went through.

The main courtyard

I love the mix of ancient and modern.

Yes, that's an incense burner to the left, 

the Precious Hall of the Great Hero in background.

Another view of the courtyard

So what is this pagoda-like metal container?

A fun and skill-testing way to donate money to the temple?

I did see people throwing coins into the openings.

Any ideas, folks?

Another angle of that thing,
whatever it is.

Yet another angle.

Does this help solve the mystery?

This would be your Guanyin Bodhisattva,

the Goddess of Mercy, all five tons of her.

This is one part of the temple under renovation.

This is the other part.

One of the statues up close
Nice placement of the flowers

Part of a poster in the temple telling people where not to set off fireworks.
Are you kidding? I think letting them rip near an
electrical transformer could have spectacular results!

This is the Jade Buddha, made of, yes,
you guessed it, Burmese jade.

Outside again we were lucky enough to catch these Buddhist
monks in action, chanting and playing their instruments.

The Mahavira Hall

Aunt Blair opted to wait below rather than climb the stairs.

One of the two friezes on the stairway

Where's Waldo Blair?

The Jing'an Silver Buddha

The hall is constructed of Myanmar teak.
Beautiful.

View from the balcony of the Mahavira Hall

Aunt Blair had been busy while I was up in the main hall.
She makes friends wherever she goes.

Later that evening Aunt Blair and I got glam, again!
We went to the Glamour Bar on the Bund.

First, we were on the top floor of M on the Bund to take
full advantage of the view.

Aunt Blair with the Oriental Pearl Tower in the background

Then we headed down to the Glamour Bar.

Night fell

I never get tired of this view.

Aunt Blair and I basking in the glamour.