2. Here we have the entrance sign to the temple. It is written in gold
painting and carved into a rectangular piece of stone above plants.
3. This is some of the architectural detail. It has a very elaborate design
with the white walls and golden emplated stars on the ceiling. It
seems like gold is a recurring color, which is also used to symbolize
the sun or fire.
4. This is the entrance to the actual temple. There are two statues on both sides
with an almost exact appearance. The theme color look to be gold, red, and
white. Gold symbolizes the sun or fire, red symbolizes preserved life and is
often used to paint buildings, white is used to symbole no secrets. The two
deer on top of the door symbolize the park where the first buddhist teaching
5. Here is a statue of Thotsakan that was in front of the actual
temple. It has a complex design and it has an unusual skin
color, green. The color green symbolizes balance and
6. Nearly all statues had food offerings, mainly
fruit. The offering are their expression of
gratitude. Offerings are believed to bring a
rebirth or a healthier karma. The offerings are
not needed by Buddha, but are given by people
to be granted something positive.
7. This painting occupied an entire wall inside of the temple. It is a painting of
another temple with a very similair design and there are many people
performing rituals and socializing. The location in the painting is full of nature
and a non rural area as opose to the location the temple is in, North
8. These are the main altars inside the temple. The statues are surounded by flowers,
candles, and other statue like objects. There was no artifial light, only sunlight. The
larger staue is painted gold and the other is painted a dark green. There are also
boxes of eggs in front of the altars
9. These are wires coveres in colorful material.
Hanging on them are name tags, probably
people who have visited th temple or are
frequently there. It’s design is similar to a
christmas trees. They are decorated very
colorfully and vibrant with colored paper,
material, and flowers.
10. There was a table full of elephant statues.
Elephants are a symbol of mental
strength. A grey elephant represents a
wild disastrous mind and white elephant
symbolizes an experienced and powerful
person. Elephants are also regarded as
guardians of temples and of Buddha
himself.
