Shaolin Temple

This is the Pagoda Forest—the burial ground for Shaolin monks, from emminent abbots to nameless disciples.

Another pagoda skyline. The figure with the blue umbrella in the bottom center of the picture may help give a sense of the scale of the pagodas.

Many of the pagodas had beautiful carvings around their bases.

This trip I didn't get a lot of pictures of the temple buildings, but I thought this was nice. The one in the background is either the drum or the bell tower—I can never remember which is which.

A side courtyard contains the whole history of Shaolin kung fu, as told by these mud figures. Last time I was here they'd been freshly dusted, but now they're getting a bit worse for wear. I like the way the eyes are painted.

Certain other indignities have befallen some of them.

See those two little figures silhouetted at the top of the mountain? That's where I'm going.

In the center of this picture you can just make out a section of the stone steps that lead up the side of the mountain. We called them "Shaolin Stairmaster."

And this is the view back down the mountain. Sorry about the contrast.

The old boy himself. Use the disrespectful western barbarian in his lap to get a sense of the scale.

The Buddhist nunnery part way up the hill.

And a nun that I passed on the way down. She's headed home.