Shopping Christmas Presents
Shop until you drop - this was this morning's motto. I met with my Taiwanese project colleague Gina in order to discover Xidan markets. The amazing thing was: Prices were good there and I didn't meet a single non Asian person during the whole morning in the market halls. Gina also helped me negotiating because of course prices were not fixed and the first price they tell you is overstated.
White Cloud Pagoda - Bai yun guan
In the afternoon I met Claudia (another German on the info year here) to discover the White Cloud Pagoda. This pagoda is one of the few Taoist temples left in Beijing. Taoists believe that you have to free yourself from material things and earthern desires.
I just quote one text of their philosophy here (in German):
"Nichts in der WeltIst so formlos und weich wie das Wasser. Doch nichts kann besser als Wasser das Feste und Harte aushöhlen. Selbst ist es nicht zu zerstören. Dass das Wasser das Feste besiegt, dass das Weiche das Harte besiegt -Niemand auf der Welt, der das nicht weiss. Und doch keiner, der es zu benutzen vermag."
Taoism (Geman: "Daoismus") is a very old belief. Herman Hesse was one of the more recent followers of Taoism. Taoist monks were long hair and often wear it in a knot. They also wear simple style clothes.
The photo on the left shows monks in the temple. The photo on the right shows a yard in the temple. The photo below shows Claudia with some coins which you use to throw coins and try to hit a clock to make it ring. This is supposed to bring luck.
So far for today. I wish you all a nice weekend.
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