walk all over China

Chapter 6 Henan: Nian Tiandi

Longmen Grottoes
The natural ancient city is like a flash in the pan in the long river of history. Under the protection of the Buddha, it enjoys its old age in an ordinary way.Even so, it is still admired and recalled by later generations.The leisurely bells of ancient temples wake up the past in the city; a volume of Shaolin Zen Buddhism shakes off the prosperity of the place; what is left behind is the past, but what is understood is the present; the moment you turn around, the clear snow reflects the true meaning of Henan .

The ingenious attainments in the grottoes have long given the pious heart to the cliffs. The looking up and touching of later generations is actually a dialogue between man and Buddha. When admiring, the soul has been washed away.

Luoyang is known as the "Ancient Capital of Nine Dynasties".As the most famous ancient capital in China and the birthplace of the history of the Central Plains, it is familiar to the world with its numerous monuments.Among them, Longmen Grottoes is the most typical representative.

The majestic building across the Yishui River is the Longmen Bridge.After crossing the arch of the bridge, you will come to the first cave in Longshan - Guyang Cave.One Buddha, two disciples, two kings.The fine carvings seem to be rounder and fuller than the Living Buddha.Looking at the piercing eyes of the Buddha statue, it seems that the body and mind are bathed in spiritual energy.As the first cave excavated in Longmen Grottoes, Fengxian Temple has extraordinary significance.From the shape of the Buddha statues, we can appreciate the prosperity during the "Reign of Zhenguan".Most of the milestones in the history of Chinese calligraphy - the Twelve Dragon Gates are concentrated here.The Wei style is upright, generous, vigorous and powerful. Carving the Wei style on the stele has become the essence of grotto inscription calligraphy.

Binyang Cave is the Longmen Grottoes
I have to mention the classic work, the entire excavation process lasted 24 years.In the cave, the three Buddha statues respectively show different artistic charms of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Sui and Tang Dynasties.The statue of Sakyamuni on the front wall of the cave, with its thin face, big eyes, and delicate clothes, makes people feel like being in the Western Regions instantly, as if bathed in the light of Buddha.

Wanfo Cave is just south of Binyang Cave.The north and south stone walls are engraved with several small Buddhas, ranging from one inch to several centimeters in height, up to 15000.

Like the dead, the large and small Buddha statues in the entire Longmen Grottoes have been weathered and damaged to varying degrees in natural wind erosion or man-made destruction, but what is gratifying is that they are today.Looking at the people coming and going, they must resonate with each other when they touch the statue.Today's Longmen Grottoes are a symbol of historical relics and Chinese classical culture. People come to wait and see, not only for visiting, but also for feeling.

The beautiful Yishui River is like a wise man who became calm in the process of guarding the grotto, as if the wind, frost, snow and rain of the Chinese nation for thousands of years have fallen into the river, meandering along it, and never return.There is only the future in the eyes, and only the firm belief that the Buddha protects the descendants.

Shaolin Temple

Whenever Shaolin Temple is mentioned, I always think of the bell-like laughter of the shepherdess.The film of the same name in the last century has influenced too many people. Since then, the leisurely bells of the ancient temple have become a lingering dream in people's hearts. Shaolin Temple has also become famous overseas, and there are an endless stream of tourists.

Shaolin Temple has naturally become the No.1 temple in the world.As the double originator of Zen and martial arts, the "dense jungle under Shaoshi Mountain" in the hinterland of Zhongyue Songshan——

Shaolin got its name from this.It is said that Bodhidharma, the No. 20 eighth-generation disciple of Moke Kassapa, the great disciple of Sakyamuni, came to Shaolin, recruited many disciples, and began to teach Zen.Because Shaolin martial arts has its own system and unique style, the Shaolin school has gained a great reputation in the world.Even today, Shaolin Temple is still deeply respected by later generations, leaving not only rich cultural relics, but also a large number of art treasures, from the huge color paintings of five hundred Arhats in the Ming Dynasty to the Chuzu Temple in the Northern Song Dynasty, and then to the Qing Dynasty Stone carvings and Shaolin boxing scores.Every stroke of the brush embodies the demeanor of the supreme master of martial arts.

Along the north-south central axis of Shaolin Temple, there are several outstanding buildings, with auxiliary facilities on the east and west sides.From the mountain gate, through the Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Hall, Fatang, Abbot's Room, Lixue Pavilion, and then the Thousand Buddha Hall step by step into the legendary Shaolin Temple.Whether it is the form of the building complex, the choice of orientation space, or even the collocation of the surrounding landscape and the attachment of sculptures and paintings, they all seem to be interpreting the lofty realm of "harmony between man and nature".Zen is everywhere, and in Shaolin Temple, the eternal Zen makes people feel personally there.The Daxiong Palace is right in front of the mountain gate. Curls of cigarette smoke linger on the hall, complementing the carved beams and painted pillars. The melodious Buddhist music is transmitted from the hall to the ear drums, and a quiet and serious atmosphere fills it.

The murals are the best proof of Shaolin Temple’s vibrancy after thousands of years of vicissitudes. The ancient painting types, complex composition, and gorgeous colors make people sigh.Wandering in the Hall of Thousand Buddhas, I saw with my own eyes that there are five hundred Arhats painted on the northwestern wall. The posture and charm of each monk are the same, whether they are meditating or raising their hands, or talking and laughing or practicing the law, or dancing with their hands. stick or read scriptures aloud.This is the legendary Shaolin Temple, and this is the Zen monk in Shaolin Temple.In the magnificent hall, offer incense and kowtow piously, and make the most sincere commemoration for the happiness of future generations.

Stepping into the Hall of Thousand Buddhas means stepping into the Shaolin Martial Arts Hall.The neatly arranged Thousand Buddha Hall and the 48 foot sockets with orderly intervals and the same depth are the sweat and tears of the Shaolin monks.According to legend, in the Shaolin Temple, after three years of martial arts training, you can practice other skills.

Although the legendary martial arts are far away, the Zen spirit appears in all stages of life.On top of the floating world, how can we have a pure heart, how can we always be alert to ourselves?A kind of detachment, a kind of refinement in exchange for a lifetime of freshness, this kind of Taoism is really worth spending a lifetime to comprehend.

Millennium Shaohua
ancient capital of henan

Looking back at history, Xuchang is not only a place where heroes compete for the throne, but also the birthplace of Jian'an literature.It has a long history and outstanding people, and has been dubbed "the granary of the Central Plains".Since Emperor Wen of Wei established Wei, the name here has been used until today.

"When is the spring, flowers and autumn moon? How much do you know about the past?" Among the eight ancient capitals of China, Henan accounts for half. The heroic courage of the robe, the awe-inspiring righteousness of the crescent moon hanging on the forehead, accompanied by the thickness and calmness of the ancient capital, form a vivid and realistic epic in one go.

Walking in Anyang, you are in the ancient but world-famous Yin Ruins, and you can see palaces and temples everywhere you look.It is not just these buildings that shock the sight, but the unique contribution of Yin Ruins as Chinese civilization and even human civilization.It has never been a few simple buildings, a few abandoned ruins, it is a capital, as far back as 3300 years ago, the politics and economy here have been formed, the epitome of a kingdom is presented here, and the former style of Yin Ruins is paved. The Chinese nation today.

Stepping on the land of Kaifeng, it seems that the awe-inspiring aura spread to every nerve in an instant. The thickness of the region hides too many past events. Walking in the ordinary alleys, the beauty of ancient civilizations blooms in front of you.The squares of the Tang and Song Dynasties, the alleys of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the streets of the Qing Dynasty, and countless famous temples and treasures, there are countless styles of everyone.Majestic and ethereal alternate with each other, making people sigh in the change of time.The ancient capital of the seven dynasties, the emperors of the nine dynasties, the flowing water and the falling flowers, the spring is gone, I don't know what year it is now!

Think of Luoyang, the ancient capital of nine dynasties.In the history of China, what kind of romantic Luoyang has performed, and the proud prosperity is amazing.The magnificence of Longmen Grottoes, the tranquility of Xuanzang’s hometown, the superb Tang Sancai, and the beauty of Luo embroidery.No one gave up the existence of this city because of its current decline, because every place in Luoyang seems to witness the immortal glory.

Looking back at history, Xuchang is not only a place where heroes compete for the throne, but also the birthplace of Jian'an literature.It has a long history and outstanding people, and has been dubbed "the granary of the Central Plains".Since Emperor Wen of Wei established Wei, the name here has been used until today.The culture of the Three Kingdoms is rich here, and the famous Jian'an literature was created, not only the birth of Wu Daozi, the sage of painting More systematic characters in ancient Chinese characters.

As the ancient capital of many dynasties, Henan has many ancient cultural sites.But this chariot and horse pit is a relic of the Yin Dynasty that is even older.

The chariot and horse pit of the Yinxu Museum in Anyang, Henan Province, the great writer Su Shi and the famous poet Shen Deqian are quite fond of this place.

According to historical records, the Xia Dynasty, China's first slavery dynasty, once established its capital here - Zhengzhou.For a long time, it was the political center of the whole country.Together with Anyang, Kaifeng, and Luoyang, Zhengzhou was listed as one of the eight ancient capitals of China. The glorious glory of being the capital of the Five Dynasties and the state of the eight generations made Zhengzhou stand proudly like an old general with undiminished prestige.On the banks of the meandering Yellow River, this place was once called "Central Plains".A sentence of Central Plains brings back so many men's chivalrous dreams of wandering the rivers and lakes, and a sentence of Central Plains brings out so many events of the past.

"Shaohua is not reserved for young people, hate is long, when will it rest? In the depths of loneliness, there is no words to go to the west building. Ten years of greed for joy and dreams, it is nothing, young head." People always have this kind of feeling about the old capital of Henan. The imagery of the past appears in my mind: the leisurely bells of the White Horse Temple, the blooming peonies outside Luoyang City, and the handwriting carved on the ancient city wall.Tangled together like a dream, both profound and vague, both sighing and regretful. "Happiness goes away with time, but people break willows." When time is gone, it is enough to pick up a willow branch and send a miss, remembering that you have visited, felt, and blended in.

(End of this chapter)