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One might think that the very young are quite different than older folks. I propose that we are all the same in one major way... We love a good story, and the best stories come from real life. History is full of tantalizing, sorrowful, tragic, and wonderful stories. Most exciting of all is the fact that we are all writing our own stories at this very moment. The choices we make will affect others' stories, and in no time at all, we become the stories that will be told in the future. I have had the opportunity to travel the tiniest bit, and each time I visit a new-to-me place in the world, I feel as though I have been changed. Touched by the people I meet and their stories, I can't wait to share those stories with my students, my colleagues, and my family. If any of the discoveries I make along the way are useful to you as well, all the better.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Dazu Rock Carvings

July 20, 2013

 In Dazu County, in the municipality of Chongqing, a historic wonder hides in the mountains.  The Dazu Rock Carvings are on UNESCOs World Heritage List.  They are a series of grand carvings of Buddhist, Tao, and Confucian themes.  One section's story feels peaceful and serene, such as the carvings showing people's dedication to their elder family members.  Another section is disturbing.  I almost want to look away but can't.  This section depicts images of what hell is like.  Figures are being tortured in a variety of imaginative ways.

The first carvings were done in Early Tang Dynasty in the 650s, but the main body of work commenced in the 9th century.  Wei Junjing began the carvings in 892.  Others followed his example to continue the great work.  From early Tang through the Ming and Qing dynasties, the site endured and was not destroyed by natural or man-made disasters (a fire destroyed a section, but that was repaired during the Ming and Qing period).  That is probably the last time there was any significant work done on the carvings.



There were sections with vibrant and beautiful blues that look as if they were painted within  this last decade.  Master craftsmen worked to create this wonder until the end of the 13th century when war caused the work to stop for good.
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1 comment:

  1. Arlis GrovesFebruary 5, 2015 at 12:46 PM

    The carvings are beautiful and tell the stories found in Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. I learned a great deal about the culture of China by meandering along the trails here. What culturally significant places have you been?

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