The murals of the Huadong Temple are breathtaking.

[Land of Yanzhao·Shijiazhuang·Huadong murals are awe-inspiring] "So close, so beautiful", I have passed Shijiazhuang countless times, and even when I made a special trip to the ancient city of Zhengding, I never said I must go to this small place, although I know it is quite famous. It has the rare Ming Dynasty water and land paintings that combine Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism in China, known as the best water and land murals, and one of the "Four Great Murals in Ancient China", as famous as the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Fahai Temple in Beijing, and the Yongle Palace murals in Shanxi. I have also seen many murals in temples and monasteries of all sizes in China, including water and land paintings. The water and land paintings I saw at the Princess Temple in Fanshi, Shanxi last year were already magnificent. However, when you approach the Pilu Hall of Shijiazhuang Pilu Temple, and when your eyes slowly get used to the dark environment, it will only take a few minutes for you to be amazed by the magnificent masterpiece before your eyes. You can even ignore the religious content and storyline of the murals. Look at the layout of the more than 500 characters of all sizes, their faces, expressions, clothes, lines, and colors. Of course, if you know a little more about religious knowledge, painting techniques, and the content of the pictures, you will be completely immersed in it and don't want to leave. There is only natural light in the hall and it is very stuffy. Taking photos and using flashlights are not allowed. I discussed it with the lady guarding the door of the hall and after getting permission, I took a few distant views as a souvenir. Next time I pass by Shijiazhuang, I will come again! Tips: Murals of Pilu Temple in Shijiazhuang The murals in the Pilu Hall are very different from the "Chao Yuan Tu" in the Yongle Palace in Ruicheng, Shanxi, which simply depicts Taoist murals from the Yuan Dynasty, or the "Lifo Tu" in the Fahai Temple in Beijing, which simply depicts Buddhist murals from the Ming Dynasty. The scene is extremely grand, with not only Buddhist gods and Buddhas, the Ten Great Bodhisattvas, the gods, arhats, guardian gods, etc.; there are also Taoist systems such as the Five Mountains and Four Rivers, the Emperor's Stars, the Six Dings and Six Jias, and the Twenty-Eight Constellations; there are also ancient figures, such as emperors, bureaucrats, civil officials and military generals, concubines, female officials, righteous women and other Confucian portraits. These 508 figures are all carefully drawn with traditional fine brushwork and heavy color outlining and filling method, with complete types of outlining lines. The painters handle different lines with different skills, giving each character not only rich and vivid expressions with distinct personalities, but also the charm of "Wu Dai Dang Feng": fluttering ribbons, fluttering folds in the wind, flowing colorful clouds... What is most commendable is the overall composition and layout of the murals. They all have a general rhythm and rhyme. Although they are grouped in three or five, most of the contents have clear inscriptions, so they can be independent. Such a structure with a main and a subordinate and diverse changes can be called a masterpiece of ancient painting, which is amazing. 📝Note tips: No taking photos📷, no using flashlights🔦