Yuyin Shan Fang

Our Saturday trip was to ShiShi Temple and Yuyin Shan Fang. We went to the Temple with Daniel in the morning.

The ShiShi Temple is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Guangzhou. I was built in 1863. As we have traveled around the world (and even in Chicago) we have seen Jesus portrayed with the facial characteristics of the worshipers. What was striking at ShiShi is that all the portraits show a Caucasian Jesus. The Cathedral is very beautiful and is built in the same style at St. Marie Cathedral in Paris.

Below are some pictures of the stain glass and sculpture.




Yu-Mi joined Daniel and us for the second event. Yuyin Shan Fang translates to Ancestral Garden. The garden is a national protected cultural relic. The garden was built in 1871, the 10th Yu-Mi, Daniel, Marsha and Mel

year of Tungzhi Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. Mr. Wu, the original owner of the estate, was a supernumerary vice minister of punishment. Obviously he was very wealthy. The Chinese believe that seeing a mountain from your window guarantees the continuation of your wealth and good being. Since he built in a coastal city with no mountains, he had a mountain built in the middle courtyard of his home. While not a big mountain, it is 8 meters high (around 25 feet).

Over lunch both Daniel and Yu-Mi opened up even more than previously. Daniel was most interested in Jews. Hopefully we corrected a couple of things he thought he knew. Yu-Mi had more personal type questions.

Here are some pictures of the estate.
wood door carvingwood sofa and screen plateprivate temple glass painting and real lily pond.


Finally, Marsha and I played Mr. Wu and his concubine (Marsha says: First wife). For 20 yuan ($2.50 US) we play acted.