The Twin Sal Trees in front of the nine-story Monk Tongli Pagoda in the Tanzhe Temple, Mentougou District. They are the oldest sal trees in China and are known as holy trees.
While we were visiting ancient temples in Beijing, we came upon some old giant trees. The old trees are living witnesses to the history of the sites, and they left us with an unforgettable impression and a feeling of having gone back more than a thousand years in time.
Formerly, fine strains of trees were planted in and around temples to add to the religious atmosphere and the beauty of the surroundings. Thanks to the temples, these old trees have avoided being cut for firewood or other uses.
Some of the old pines and knotted cypresses are landmarks on ancient holy sites. Ginkgoes, Chinese scholar trees, and sala trees were regarded as holy trees in Buddhism and were often planted in pairs along the paths and at the entrances to temples. Even today, the old trees are easily seen, especially in winter, as they stand on mountaintops in the outskirts of Beijing.
The old giant trees used to be worshiped by the people of Beijing. Some of them were granted titles or pet names such as the Emperor's Tree, the King of Ginkgoes, and the Guest-Welcoming Pine by emperors and local people.
These old trees not only remind us of the remote past but also inspire us to preserve them and their temples so our descendants can enjoy them as we do now.
(China Pictorial February 9, 2003)
|
