During the second week, I began studying Buddhist iconography. I mainly focused on the study of visual characteristics of Song-dynasty Buddhist statues. What are the most distinctive features of Song Buddhist sculpture? They can often be found in the drapery of the clothing, the use of color, and the overall form of the figure. However, much of this work still depends on careful visual comparison. We must examine surviving Song-dynasty paintings and Buddhist sculptures, then

During my first week, I stayed at Nengren Temple in Zhejiang Province, where I began studying Buddhist statue restoration and iconography. My master first gave me a detailed introduction to the history of Buddhist sculpture, polychrome decoration, and carving. Next week, we will begin more concrete work on restoration methods and historical verification. Our discussion of Buddhist sculptural history began with Gandhara. We traced the origins of Buddhist images and examined ho

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Ruji Yan Temple is an ancient sanctuary nestled deep within the mountains of Nan'an. Carved by wind, rain, and the rugged face of stone, it has remained hidden through shadow and the passing of dynasties. From the silent trace of vermilion still lingering upon its Buddha statues, one senses a quiet anticipation—as though the temple has long been waiting for the return of its faithful. The main hall is composed of two levels.The lower level reveals a natural cavernous chamber,

Collection of videos from our Lighthouse Book Drive This event was organized in collaboration with the property management of the Straits International Community and took place along the community’s commercial street under the name “Lighthouse Book Drive.” We invited students from nearby schools to volunteer and also partnered with local farms to provide free vegetables in exchange for book donations. More than just a one-time book drive, this initiative marks the beginning o

This pen pal initiative, titled “The Wings of Youth,” brought together students from St. Francis Preparatory School’s Ancient Technology and Craftsmanship Club along with other students from the school. Hosted by Librareads, the project created a unique opportunity for English learning among students from the urban village areas of Tong’an District, Xiamen, China. In rural parts of China, many children do not begin learning English until as late as third grade — or even seven

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