These ‘mountains’ are called karsts, limestone hills that are typically
only 100-300 feet tall. They are a common view in southeastern China.
Old original entrance to the village of Hong Yao about 100 miles from the
city of Gui Lin.
A fragment of a statue at a
restored Buddhist temple where we stayed. During the Cultural Revolution
(1966-1975), Mao unleashed his Red Guard thug troops to destroy as much of
ancient China as he could.
A beautiful carved dragon. The village changed these carvings
periodically. This one replaced the Phoenix that we use as our logo.
Posters like the one on this
door are common in this village. They are meant to scare away evil
spirits.
Here is Mark beside a very short doorway. Most people in southern China
are around 5 feet tall fully grown. Mark is 6’5".
Master Huang, our Qi
Gong teacher, with Heiner Fruehauf, our translator and head of the Chinese
Medicine department where I studied. Master Huang began his medical
training at the age of nine under the tutelage of his Master who was born
in the 1880s. His lectures were amazing.
Master Huang, lecturing in the courtyard under a 400 year old tree.
My classmates plus a few friends at the Buddhist temple.
A view of the city of Gui Lin, built amongst the karsts
A celebration! One of the young men from a nearby village
was accepted to go to college. A number of local citizens gave him a
parade through the temple.
Practicing Qi Gong in front of the temple.
Dr. Liu, lecturing on medical fasting in front of the 1000 year old
monastery at the temple.
Chanting at the temple. When the Red guard came, local citizens hid as
many of the priceless statues and other artifacts as they could to save
them from destruction.
Two different Dragon Claw trees. So called because when
they get very old, the lower branches resemble dragon claws. These two
trees are 4-500 years old. The roots of this tree are the main ingredient
of a Daoist folk medicine formula to cure breast cancer. The diameter of
the tree on the left at the base is around eight feet. There is a rope
dangling from one tree, which was a ‘Tarzan’ like swing used in the
filming of a Chinese action movie from the year before.
