The Temple of The Eight Immortals

Trip Start Jan 01, 2005

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Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of China Xi'an, China
Monday, September 1, 2008

12-Temple of the Eight Immortals

7-Temple of the Eight Immortals

18-Temple of the Eight Immortals

Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya

The Temple of the Eight Immortals is Xian's largest Taoist temple and from the ones I have visited it is also the most beautiful. It is supposedly built on the site of an ancient wine shop and it was built to protect all against 'subterranean divine thunder.'

When I arrived the actual 'Eight Immortals Temple' was fully active and all was made more sublime by the anciently beautiful sounds from five young musicians playing strange yet wonderful Asian instruments.

Even if you are not into temples it is worth the visit for some of the colourful mythological paintings alone. I got to take photographs in many areas as I was led around by a rather cute young female monk. When I wasn't with her I was told I couldn't take photographs in many places but strangely when I was with her I could take photographs in those same places.

Rather strange for a Taoist Temple!
Usually you can take as many photos of whatever you like to your hearts desire!

Across the tiny road from the temple is a very lazy market place where there is supposed to be a very popular Antique Market on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. Hopefully if you go there then it will be much more alive than it was today. It seemed that everyone from visitors to store people lay asleep on any flat surface they could find.

Lazy days in one hell of a lazy market place!
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane

PS: So ends the 2008 Summer Beers N Noodles Adventure.

I think its been one of my favourite adventures so far. I got to see so many different things along a pathway that took me from lush greens to desert regions to a sub-tropical mountain dotted with colonial buildings. For me though the best part was being able to actually travel and spend an entire month with Luo Wei.

Tomorrow I will begin an entire new adventure in my life here in China. Tomorrow I actually move in and begin to call Shaanxi Province my home. A province so full of history that I will catch but a glimpse of it to show you in my year to year and a half I live here.

Life is such a wonderful adventure.
I hope you don't mind me shairing a part of mine with you.
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The soundtrack to this entry was by the poetic Fish
The album was 'Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors'
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From: www.travelchinaguide.com

Ba Xian An Monastery (Temple of the Eight Immortals)

As its name indicates, is mainly dedicated to the legendary Eight Immortals Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Han Xiangzi, Tieguai Li, Cao Guojiu, Lv Dongbin, Lan Caihe and He Xiangu. Located on Changle Fang Street in the eastern suburb, it is the biggest Taoist temple in Xian and is a famous Taoist architecture in northwest China.

Ba Xian An Monastery is also called Ba Xian An Palace because when the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing in 1900, Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi escaped to Xian and lived in Ba Xian An Monastery. Therefore, Empress Dowager Cixi donated taels of silver later to fund the renovation of the monastery and gave it the name Ba Xian An Palace.

The monastery is said to be built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and was repaired and expanded many times in succeeding dynasties. The structures that can be seen today were mainly built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Not counting Mountain Gate, Paifang, Screen Wall, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, the monastery can be divided into three sections. The first section includes five halls, dedicating to the protective god of Taoism-Wang Lingguan. The second section has two halls, and the color-painted statues of the Eight Immortals are worshiped in the back hall. The third section is the Main Hall with a tablet hanging on its lintel. The four characters 'Dong Tian Yun Ji' was inscribed on the tablet by Empress Dowager Cixi. Inside the hall, sacrifices were made to Dou Mu Yuan Jun (a high ranked god in Taoism) and other gods. Its annexes contain Lvzu (Lv Dongbin) Hall and Yaowang (King of Chinese medicine) Hall on the east and accommodations for Taoists on the west.

Besides visiting the monastery and burning incenses to pray for felicity, you should also look around the street outside the monastery. It's really a short street at a length of only 100 meters (110 yards) lined with two-storey buildings on both sides. Many curios like bronze mirrors, folding screen, four treasures of study, gallipots, porcelain and folding fans are sold here, most of which were commodities of the common people in olden times.

Ba Xian An Monastery is a popular and important spot for Taoist celebrations in Shaanxi Province. On the 14th, 15th and 16th day of the fourth lunar month, the annual temple fair will be held. Ceremonious religious activities on the Double Nine Festival (9th day of the 9th lunar month) also attract a lot of adherents and tourists from near and far.