Trip To Baogua Temple To Meet The Abbot (May 14)

We set up our first visit with the monk from Baogua Temple we had met at Xiao Lin's pharmacy last weekend. We went to meet him at 1000 along with the Gap Guys. As we started to walk to the temple, we decided to take a van instead since it was nearing 1000. Good thing we did as the usual way we walk to the temple was completely blocked with new construction. The van driver tried to go that way but had to turn around and take the long way. We arrived to the Temple right at 1000. We called Monk Sin and he came to get us.

Here we are waiting for Monk Sin to come get us. The place was medium busy so we had no problem going.

Visiting the Supreme Abbot of Emeishan

As we walked into the front courtyard of the Temple, Monk Sin led us to a small building on the right hand side. There we had the great privilege of meeting Abbot Tongyang, the Supreme Abbot of Emei Mountain. According to Monk Sin, he is 98. According to the monk who was his assistant, the Supreme Abbot is over 110. The internet had him as 102 years old. No question that he is old.

Another group shot with Monk Sin and the Supreme Abbot.

Sunee presents the Supreme Abbot with a gift from Thailand. They are coasters for tea. He seemed to really appreciate the gift.

Sunee explains what the gift is and about the Thai elephants on each one. Dave, of course, is busy recording the event.

The Supreme Abbot presents Dave with prayer beads and shows him how to use them.

I even get prayer beads from the Supreme Abbot. I kept trying to put them on my wrists but he insisted that I use them right away as in NOW.

John gets his prayer beads.

The Supreme Abbot demonstrates how to correctly use the prayer beads.

The Supreme Abbot of Emei Mountain is reported to be well over 100 years old.

When the Supreme Abbot was talking with Sunee, he wanted to know if I beat her. She said no but that she beats me. At over 100 years old, the Abbot still had a great sense of humor.

Visiting Baogua Temple

With our exciting visit with the Supreme Abbot over, we were invited to have lunch at the temple. It was served at 1130 so we had a little over an hour to visit other parts of the temple. The hour was well spent.

In the back of the room where we had visited with the Abbot were three Buddha images. They all great for photo ops. Here is an up-close head view of one of them.

Another close-up of one of the images.

A full frontal view of the Buddha image on the far left.

This image with the Buddha on an elephant stood on the far right.

After we left the Abbot, we checked out the dining area which was just around the corner. Here I find a bunch of chopsticks ready to use in the upcoming lunch.

One of two doorways leading into the giant dining hall where we would be having our lunch.

First courtyard upon entering Baogua Temple.

This was taken in the second courtyard where I found these giant candles burning brightly.

Incense sticks in the second courtyard incense burner. These were actually taken by John.

The giant fish in the second courtyard. Sunee thought it would be a good idea to drum it like she had seen a monk do. She was immediately reprimanded for her actions. Guess only monks can do the drumming. Here John and Dave check out the coloring of the fish.

This is a great shot from John in the second courtyard.

Guard dogs. Guard dogs. They are everywhere around the Temple.

Last time I was here, I saw all the paper mache figures over on the left courtyard of the temple. Sunee would not let me take pictures because they are for dead people. John got this one and it turned out really well.

Dave asked Sunee several questions about the area and things in the courtyards. Sunee relates her experiences of Buddhism and points out common things between Thailand and China.

John takes another great picture of the discussion in the third courtyard area between Sunee and Dave.


This doorway, tourist forbidden, off to the right in the back of the first major building. The reds were very brilliant.

I have taken several pictures of the fences at the top of the stairs leading to the middle building. These fences are obviously very old. Song Dynasty maybe?

Sunee at the back of the first major building. A beautiful table and huge mural add to the interest of the area.

John took this picture inside the commercial area of the temple. This Buddha is for sale if anyone is interested.

A Vegetarian Lunch

At 1130 we walked back over to the dining area and with around 50 or 60 other pilgrims had a great vegetarian lunch. The organization was well established so there was no waiting to get our vittles. They were well worth the wait.

Sunee starts things off by getting us all some rice to eat.

Our vegetarian lunch served by the Temple. Plenty of vegetables and plenty of rice.

Dave tries some of the vegetables we were served. The tofu was especially "Tom delicious."

After lunch, we had to clean up our dishes so they could be placed in the modern dish water in the kitchen. The water was very hot on the side Sunee and the Gap Guys were using.


A huge ceramic mural of Emei Mountain showing all the temples and the various geological points. This thing was in the dining room area and was really big. With this we come to the end of our wonderful visit to Baogua Temple. This is the headquarters for all the monks on Emeishan and usually the first temple to be visited when one comes to Emei Mountain.