Day 12 (May 27th) : Yu Garden and Jade Budda Temple

12^th Day

On 12th day, we visited Yu garden and Jade Buddha temple in Shanghai.  In the morning, when we visited Yu garden, it was raining.  Therefore, Yu garden did not have as much tourists.  However, according to the guide, Yu garden meant Garden of happiness.  Hence, Yu garden is one of the most favored place for Shanghai residents and tourists.

According to the guide, Yu garden was built in 1577 by Officer Yunduan during Ming Dynasty.  The garden was built to show respect to parents.  Officer Yunduan wanted to give his parents a peaceful place to rest.  Therefore, he built Yu garden as if they were in a small forest.  Often it was Chinese people's beliefs that forest symbolized peacefulness and trees symbolized longevity.

Furthermore, Officer Yunduan built in many of the symbols of longevity within Yu garden.  For example, Officer Yunduan brought turtles into the lake and Gingko trees in the backyard.  Therefore, it could infer that Officer Yunduan wanted his parents to live long.  

After visiting Yu garden, we went to Jade Buddha temple.  The temple had been 100 years old.  In Chinese culture, jade is a valuable stone as it signifies human virtue.  Therefore, Buddha statue built by jade stone was valuable structures to temple as well as Shanghai residents.  The two Jade Buddha statues were brought from Burma in late 1800s.  In 1882, the temple was built to uphold two jade Buddha statues.  The two jade Buddha statues were named "The sitting jade Buddha" and The Reclining/ Recumbent jade Buddha. The sitting jade Buddha signifies the glory of Buddha and Reclining/ Recumbent jade Buddha signifies the peaceful death of the Buddha. 

Upon the jade Buddha temple, there are three male Buddha statues and one female Buddha statue.  The three Buddha statues signifies past, present and future.  Also, the female Buddha statue symbolizes the comfort, support and women.  

After visiting Jade Buddah temple, we got on the bullet train to Beijing.  There were far too many people as seen in the picture.  However, we safely got on the train and safely arrived in Beijing.