religion – rene bauer photography

South Korea: Temple of Donghwasa

Near the city of Daegu, settled on the foot of Mt. Palgongsan, is the beautiful temple complex of Dhongwasa. It’s surrounded by lush forest with small streams and nice walk ways trough nature.

The first temple dates back around 1500 years ago. Nowadays are existing older buildings beside new houses and temples with huge statues and figures. Among them are also some figures from African animals. No idea they just like them here too or there’s maybe a deeper meaning about it. More clearly seems the meaning of angry looking guards at the entrance and the calm Buddha inside the complex.

Juni 16, 2024Juni 16, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, history, landscape, nature, roadtrip, SouthKorea, tradition, travelTags: Asia, buddha, buddhism, daegu, donghwasa, korea, landscape, nature, palgongsan, people, religion, renebauerphotography, SouthKorea, temple, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

South Korea’s `most beautiful temple`!

In Busan outskirt lies the most beautiful Buddhist temple of South Korea, as they stated themself : Haedong Yonggungsa.

At the edge of a rocky coast line lies this big temple complex. Many corners and niches in buildings but also between rocks with statues and holy shrines. Worshippers come to pray, to be thankfully for success or begging for a good luck in a healthy and wealthy future. But also non-believers get stunned by its beauty and the rich cultural heritage it hosts. And then there is still the undeniable hunger for good signs, which makes us humans too. So, i was too tempted to try my luck by throwing a lucky coin into a several meters away stone bowl. And hit it at my second attempt. The future will show…

Juni 5, 2024Juni 4, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, humansofplanetearth, landscape, reportage, travelTags: Asia, buddha, buddhism, buddhisttemple, busan, coast, daytour, haedongyonggungsa, korea, landscape, people, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, SouthKorea, temple, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taipei/Taiwan: „Not your Baby“

Back in the streets of Taipei i was welcomed nicely by the team of a noodle restaurant. With this culinary and emotional uplift i went out for another stroll in a unknown street of this huge city.

Of course i came across a temple. Always impressing how people including a short visit to their place of faith while their out for shopping or eating. On the streets there’s always enough food to taste, street musicians to listen to and also historical buildings to set back in the old times.

One of the greater pleasure, i have to admit, is to sit on a street cafe and watching people. Some are in a hurry, whilst others enjoying a chat on the street, or just communicate non-verbal with their fashion „Not your baby“

April 14, 2024April 14, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, Fashion, gastronomy, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, travel, urbanlifeTags: Asia, food, market, notyourbaby, people, portraits, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, sightseeing, streetphotography, taipei, taiwan, taoism, temple, Travel, worshipper, worshipping Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Street Procession

There are still ongoing events for the Chinese New Year. So i bumped into a street procession and followed it for awhile. Gods and Goddesses were carried in ornate sedan chairs or pulled in decorative carriages. The people were in festive mood, played drums and instruments and cheered up the spectator and i think the gods and goddesses too.

April 5, 2024April 3, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: Asia, event, fareast, god, goddess, people, portrait, procession, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, streetphotography, streetprocession, tainan, taiwan, taoism, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Burning Money In The Temple

Maybe you noticed these stacks of yellow papers in my prior posts. Well, these are ‚paper money‘ what get burned for the ancestors and family members who passed away, to ensure they have the financial fundings for a comfortable afterlife.

While i visited the City Temple in Tainan, i found myself in the backyard in a nice garden. I noticed a huge chimney. Getting closer to inspect it, i became a witness how people enlightened stacks of these paper money and let it burn in big flames, providing a comfortable time for their people in afterlife.

März 31, 2024März 30, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, history, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: Asia, ceremony, citytemple, culture, gods, papermoney, people, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, tainan, taiwan, taoism, temple, Travel, worshipping Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Tainan Puji Temple Impressions

There was a Puji Temple just around the block. It wasn’t the biggest and most important, but beautiful set in the neighborhood and colorful decorated with many lanterns.

When i found it, it was pretty busy with worshipper and priests. The smell of incenses and the atmosphere with the dimmed lantern lights gave me quite an impression…

März 27, 2024März 27, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, traditionTags: Asia, culture, god, goddesses, incense, lantern, people, phoenix, priest, puji, pujitemple, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, tainan, taiwan, taoism, temple, Travel, worshipper Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Arriving In Tainan

It was late afternoon when i arrived Tainan, in southern Taiwan. But it’s never too late to go out for a stroll in the neighborhood.

Much to see explore, as i found out soon. Around and inside the temples were still lots of lanterns, since the final festivities about Chinese New Year weren’t over yet. In one of the temple two nice, young ladies explaining me, how they interact with their gods and asking questions. It works with throwing two crescent-shaped wooden parts. Depending how the lie, the gods are willing to listen to their questions. Next step is to choose one of the providing sticks, which have numbers what leads to a certain box in a cupboard, where finally is a piece of paper with the answer to your initial question. Maybe.

They also told me about the various gods and goddesses in the different niches of the temple. There’s one who helps to find your soulmate, another one brings luck for women wants get pregnant, or students pray for their exams. On the wall were the proof of success, when it worked. Not so far from catholicism, where various Saints get these tasks done, i thought for myself.

Outside of the temple a sudden strong rain started. It makes the colorful lanterns reflect on the street, giving a new, friendly atmosphere. A small snack on my way home and some juicy strawberries for dessert. The first day in Tainan ended nicely.

März 24, 2024März 24, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: Asia, chinesenewyear, city, culture, fareast, goddesses, gods, holy, lantern, lanternfestival, people, portrait, rain, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, scooter, streetfood, streetlife, streetphotography, tainan, taiwan, temple, Travel, urbanlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Lithuania – Hill of Crosses

It’s a catholic pilgrimage site, not known by certain when or by whom it started.

What is believed is in the 19th century people started bringing crosses to the site of a former hill fort. Probably in memory of perished rebels, who fight against the Russian Empire.

This hill, now know as Hill of Crosses has estimated more than 100’000 crosses, rosaries and statues, brought from all over the world.

November 19, 2023November 18, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, history, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travelTags: balticstates, catholic, crosses, easteurope, faith, hill, hillofcrosses, history, landscape, lithuania, northerneurope, overland, pilgrim, pilgrimage, pilgrimagesite, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Israel – Holy Places In Jerusalem (2/2)

There was much more to see in this holy city. Most obvious the Dome of the Rock on top of the temple plateau.

The area is bigger than it seemed from below. Tina, the tour guide, lead us over a wooden ramp along the western wall to the plateau near Al-Aqsa mosque. From there the view opened to the famous Dome of the Rock.

Around the plateau are many trees and park like areas where family gathering for a picnic and kids playing happily. But in the middle of all stands raised in the middle the Dome of the Rock with shiny, golden Dome.

To my surprise a group of orthodox Jews appeared on the spot. Actually it’s not allowed to Jews to come near to the holy of holies before the „new temple“ is erected. Tina explains us, it’s allowed to walk along the top of the wall of the plateau, but not getting to close to the centre. These groups are always escorted from a bunch of Israeli police for protection, but also from muslim watchmen, who not allow them to get to close on their holy buildings.

The last stop was on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. That place where Jesus supposed to be crucified, buried and resurrected from the tomb. Not less than six different Christian churches claiming the right to control that spot. The Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Syriac and Ethiopian Orthodox. Over the centuries they fight about the right to be holier than other ones, until it came to an agreement in 1757, so called Status Quo, which says, there can be changed or removed only with the agreement of all the other five churches.

This leads to very disturbing stories, as the so-called immovable ladder. A simple, wooden ladder at one of the windows on the Armenian sector, which is at same spot since 1728 and can’t be removed because of the Status Quo.

Once inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there are many rooms, halls and passages between the different sections and churches inside. Tania, our guide, explained a lot of the history, legends and rituals of each sector. But i can’t stop wondering and observing the lot of pilgrims coming from all over the world, kneeling in front of a certain rock, touching a stone board in prayers or kissing an image of a saint.

März 18, 2023März 17, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, history, reportage, tradition, travel, UncategorizedTags: calvary, christianity, churchoftheholysepulchre, domeoftherock, goldendome, golgatha, holy, holyplace, immovableladder, islam, israel, jerusalem, jesus, judaism, middleeast, religion, renebauerphotography, tomb, tombofjesus, Travel 1 Kommentar

Israel – A Random Day In Jerusalem

Arriving on a new town i like to roam around randomly, drinking coffee in the streets, visiting a market place or hanging around a square and listen to the street musician. Just to get the vibes of the new place. Jerusalem was no exception in that.

The people were busy. Most of them. A few took their time to listen to the street music. Some homeless people were on the streets also, hoping for a Shekel or two, while a soldiers taking a cigarette break. Lots of security units on the squares anyway, but no ones seems to feel threatened or scared. In the opposite, all pretty relaxed and enjoying life. Even when a small demonstration passes by, chanting incomprehensible sayings and waving Ethiopian flags. All peacefully.

Without planning i ended up in the Old Town Jerusalem. Eventually i stood in front of the Western wall with the view of praying Jews and the Dome of Rock. Having already a glimpse on the main attractions of the city, i decided it’s enough for today and headed back to New Jerusalem on search of a tasty falafel meal.