Frescos from Ming Dynasty glimmer in 500 year-old Fahai Temple

Frescos in Fahai Temple, Beijing, July 19, 2016. [Photo/people.cn]

Located in Shijingshan district, Beijing, Fahai Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty (1638-1644). There is a series of well-preserved frescos in the temple, featuring Buddha, Bodhisattva, fairies in Buddhist texts, mysterious animals and flowers.

Tankasri Avalokitesvara (Water and Moon Kuan-yin) sits on a large stone in one fresco, with beautiful gossamer covering her body. Through the magnifying glass, the pattern on the gossamer, six-petal flowers can be seen. Each petal was portrayed with 48 golden lines. The flowers would shimmer under the sunlight, lending the portrait a dream-like beauty.