Chongqing

Tushan Temple Tour The persistent overcast clouds finally dispersed before I began my ascent. The intermittent sun, though not warming my shoulders, still managed to freeze time the moment I stepped through the temple gates. I am indifferent to the nearly moldy wooden pillars that come to life with the sun's touch. A brief pause in the dull wind could also be the purpose of my journey. Measuring this place from bottom to top, over and over, in the temple courtyard, the heavy water tank cradles carefree fish, their movements so free as if the sunlight through the water is their ethereal playground. The birds in the sky seem to fly within this tank, while the fish appear to swim in the heavens. The candlesticks, layered with the residue of long burns, and the incense burner—whose whispers are buried in its smoke? The further I walk into the back courtyard, the quieter it becomes, quiet enough to hear only the echoes of those beside me, quiet enough for the sound of sweeping to be deafening, quiet enough to hear a leaf fall in the distance with absolute clarity. It becomes more and more like an illusion, and only the camera in my hand assures me of the reality I am in. Becoming more awake, these buildings that transcend time push me forward, layer by layer.