Jade Summit Temple Lijiang

On the morning that I was to see the Impressions Lijiang, we were brought to a famous temple in Li Jiang. The temple was on the southern slope of the most famous mountain in the region, Jade Dragon and is accordingly named Jade Summit Temple. According to internet sources, the temple was built in the 39th year in the reign of Kang Hsi in the Tsing Dynasty ie. about 1700 AD. At its height, it had 9 court yards but now only two are left, the upper and the lower. It is one of the 5 lama temples around Li Jiang. The temple is famous for an old carmelia tree, which was planted in the Ming dynasty more than 300 years ago and during spring, it would bloom with thousands of flowers during spring and fade with the coming of summer and had flowers of more than one color because it had blended into it the branches of two types of carmelia viz. "狮子头” and “早桃红"   

We went there quite early and before we went up the steps leading up to the temple, we were welcomed by some old ladies of the Bai tribes. Every Chinese New Year, faithfuls will flock to the temple to offer their first joss stick to the Buddha in the hope of having good luck for the coming year.

The entrance to the temple

There were was a furnace in the court yard spewing white smoke where some junior lamas was probably burning down all the dead or withered branches of trees from the courtyard or around the temple or perhaps charmed words on special prayer paper for the dead s the case may be.

As it was a lama temple, all the decorations were done in a mix of Tsing and Tibetan styles. There were many so-called "prayer-wheels"

Many of our tour members were Buddhists. They were eager to worship the Buddha there.

Some prayer wheels outside in the corridor outside threshold to the temple. Faithfuls are not allowed to step on the threshold but must walk over it.

As the temple was built in the Tsing Dynasty, it got Tsing colors and style of pillar, eaves, roofs and windows but the windows and walls were decorated with drawings in the traditional Tibetan Thangka style.

There were many Tibetan style "prayer flags" in the traditional colors of red, white, yellow and blue (but never black) fluttering above the courtyard.

The walls had wall Buddhist frescos done in Tibetan style

Another fresco

A bigger fresco. This one looks quite peaceful. He's playing the lute.

Another big fresco. He looks really fierce. Probably one of the guards of the Buddha

The doors had patterns of the lotus flowers

The lower court yard

Another view of the lower court yard

All kinds of religious artifacts were on sale at one side table close to the entrance.

The hand-held "prayer wheels" for sale. They are time-saving prayer devices. It is believed that each time the prayer wheel is turned, that is equivalent to saying one Buddhist prayer. 

When we arrived, it was quite early. And there was plenty of mist around.

The wooden sheds on both sides of the pathh leading to the temple

The other side of the path

All kinds of religious decorations were hung out.

This is probably how they dry stuffs.

Some firewood waiting to give warmth to the villagers.