Throwing money away
(Burning incense and throwing coins: Jing’An Temple, Shanghai)
Another installment from the Jing’An temple; here is a photo taken from the courtyard, below an enormous metal structure that people were bombarding with coins. I gather that people throw the coin through a particular gap or gate in this huge structure for good luck. From the moment you step over the threshold of the temple grounds, the singing of metal on metal greets you.
Here you can see one lady in the foreground throwing coins above her; she is aiming for a mouth in the lion footed sculpture. Ying and I had a go, just in case it was important. It is a pretty dangerous endeavour as I was almost hit by coins skipping right overhead, or other rotten shots from the other side. By the way, if you know what this structure is and what it is for, please just make a note here! In the background there are other people turning to the four points of the compass and bowing at each. Again, I am not well versed in these practices, but if you know, I’d love to learn. It is quite a noisy location for a temple, I’m surprised anyone can stop for real peace here on a busy day.
JieFeng’s mother got the answer why the people throwing coins. it is just like the tourists visiting
Rome throwing coins into the fountain, to make a wish. her friend said this is the chinese custom too. well, looks like the chinese and italian have a lot of similarities. so when you threw coins, did you make any wishes.