VISITING LINGSHAN GRAND BUDDHA AND GRAND BUDDHIST PALACE

IMHO, IT’S BEAUTY AND GRANDEUR CAN EASILY RIVAL THOSE OF FAMOUS CHRISTIAN CATHEDRALS MUSLIM MOSQUES.

A Buddhist palace fit for the gods

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010expo/2010-10/15/content_11414118.htm

Wuxi’s opulent Fan Gong Palace has to be seen to be believed, writes Yang Yijun.

Fan Gong Palace was purpose(ly)-built two years ago at the foot of Lingshan Mountain to host an international forum on Buddhism. It is made of gleaming white marble and features woodwork and other elements crafted by over 1,500 artisans from around the world.

The mountain in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, has long been known for its Buddhist heritage – particularly a bronze statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism – but the palace adds an opulent new dimension. Its flawless design is breathtaking, while five gleaming towers hint at its luxurious interior.

Luxury and craftsmanship are really the quintessential elements of the palace, which the local government reportedly spent 1.6 billion yuan (US$240 million) in building.

Inside you immediately find yourself surrounded by woodcarvings, from the ornamental decorations that sit at the end of handrails to self-supporting four-meter-tall sculptures.

The tower hall in the center of the palace is so beautiful that words barely do it justice. Feitian, or sky gods, appear to soar along the rafters in the form of three-meter-tall sculptures.

The palace has 34 of these standing in various poses, such as poised on clouds or playing flutes. Three-dimensional frescoes add to the effect.

Walking through the hall, you can educate yourself about the origins and development of Buddhism by looking at the oil paintings on the walls….