One of the four great murals in China, a guide to the Pilu Temple in Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang city
Hides a "Little Dunhuang"

It might not be quite right to call it Little Dunhuang, because the water and land murals of Pilu Temple are one of the four great murals in China, as famous as the Dunhuang murals. However, it's quite strange that there are no tourists here at all, and the parking lot at the entrance can only fit about five cars. The temple only has two main halls, yet they are filled with vibrant murals. The content of the murals involves Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, featuring loyal ministers, virtuous generals, chaste women, heroic ladies, immortal couples, demons and monsters... The upper, middle, and lower tiers depict the three realms of heaven, earth, and humanity, with hundreds of mythological characters starring in a grand assembly of deities‼️

🖼️Mural Features
The hundreds of characters are not only lifelike, but each one has a name and a surname, like a police station's roster... It looks high-end, but is actually very down-to-earth. It would be even more perfect if it were written in simplified Chinese.

📸Highlights
1️⃣ Shakyamuni Hall: The front features one Buddha with two disciples, and the back has colored sculptures of Samantabhadra, Avalokitesvara, and Manjushri, the three Bodhisattvas sharing one niche, unique to this place.
2️⃣ Pilu Hall: The central figure is Pilu Buddha, flanked by attendant Bodhisattvas, where the water and land murals are located, a grand assembly of deities scene. Be sure to pick a sunny day to visit, as the hall relies entirely on natural light for illumination. Dare to use your phone, and the administrator will pummel you in minutes...

💁🏻Some Reflections
The murals of Pilu Temple are already stunning enough, there's no need to use the legend of Tang Bohu painting here in the past to increase its value. I find that many mural-related ancient sites like to associate themselves with famous painters like Gu Kaizhi, Wu Daozi, and Tang Bohu, which always seems like they're trying to gain glory by association. Look at Dunhuang, it never mentions Zhang Daqian...

Post by N@t@l.3 M@rt.n | Apr 10, 2024