The influence of Chinese elements on me is like a steady trickle of a lake, gently flowing in every corner of my life. Since childhood, these elements have subtly nourished my mind and shaped both my thoughts and soul.
From as young as I can remember, I always felt the power of Chinese elements from the poetry of the Tang and Song dynasty. When I was a child, in the wispy breeze of many summer nights, my grandmother often recited a famous Chinese poem, ‘Jingye Si.‘ This poem depicts a writer living far away from home, reminiscing and missing the joys of his homeland.
Additionally, traditional food also allowed me to feel the charm of such unique Chinese elements. The steamed buns and steaming dumplings in Chenghuang Temple are deeply engraved in my memory. As time goes by, these seemingly ordinary things have gradually become the pillars of my life, providing me with fond memories with my family that I will continue to cherish.
This summer, I finally visited Shanghai as I had wished for since I was young. My father and I decided to go to the Chenghuang Temple first. The Chenghuang Temple is not only the center of Taoist activities, but is also a tourist destination for both old Shanghai citizens and new tourists. On a sunny Saturday morning, my dad and I got up very early and took the subway to the City God Temple. On the crowded subway, we found seats and started our journey to the Chenghuang temple. The subway was fast and it didnt take long for us to arrive at the station. We followed the crowd to get off the train and took the elevator up to Chenghuang Temple. I was surprised to see so many people waiting there! Above the gate of Chenghuang Temple hangs a huge plaque with four golden characters ‘Shanghai Chenghuang Temple‘ written on it. The font is powerful and solemn. When I walked into the temple, I saw the solemn statues and the faint incense, and my expression became serious. As I continued to walk inside, I saw the bustle of the crowds. When I first stepped into Chenghuang Temple, my eyes were wide open, looking around, and my face was filled with an excited smile, as if every ancient building and every detail was full of attraction.
The Chenghuang Temple is a traditional Chinese building, mainly made of wood, with carved beams and painted buildings. The temple is full of various exquisite carvings and decorations inside and outside, especially the beams and pillars of the main hall are carved with auspicious patterns such as dragons and phoenixes, auspicious clouds, and flowers, which look solemn and gorgeous. My father and I walked slowly on the street and saw different shops selling steamed buns, tanghulu, and other delicious foods. There are also many shops selling special gifts, such as handmade necklaces, traditional Chinese calligraphy and paintings, various cheongsams, clay sculptures and other unique items. Near the famous Nine-Curve Bridge of the Chenghuang Temple, I also saw the dough sculptures that I had learned about in Chinese class. They are a kind of art made of flour as the main material, through hand-kneading, shaping, painting and other processes. I bought a box of vivid ‘Journey to the West‘ dough figurines and couldn't put them down.
Suddenly, a bunch of wish boards caught our attention. On these wooden wish boards, pilgrims wrote down their wishes and then hung them on the designated trees. The wish boards were filled with people's wishes. Some prayed for peace and health, some hoped for a smooth career, and others hoped for academic progress. The small wish boards recorded the hopes and dreams of countless people. To me, it was the most memorable place in Chenghuang Temple. My father and I walked slowly, with excited smiles on our faces, and my father began to tell me a famous story. My father said, ‘This is a widely circulated story. According to legend, in the late Qing Dynasty, a fire broke out around the Chenghuang Temple in Shanghai. The fire was so big and fierce that it was about to spread to the temple. At that time, the abbot and believers in the temple worked together and prayed for the protection of the Chenghuang Temple in front of the temple. A miracle happened. The fire suddenly turned when it approached the temple gate and did not burn into the temple. This miracle made the local people believe in the Chenghuang Temple more and believe that it was the temple who showed up to protect their homes.‘ This story made me deeply feel the profound historical and cultural heritage of Shanghai. When I walked in the Chenghuang Temple, it was as if I was talking to history and felt the profound heritage of Chinese culture flowing through me. These Chinese elements made me understand how to cherish traditions of my culture and also allow me to find my own cultural confidence in the tide of globalization.
