Today was some in-depth sightseeing of Pingyao with Jenny. You must buy an all-inclusive ticket that allows you to see all the sites in the area. They are valid for two days and it doesn’t make any difference whether or not you only want to see one or two sites. You must buy the ticket – no exceptions, no exclusions.

First stop: The Confucius Temple, a national relic. …View image… Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) was the famous Chinese thinker and social philosopher. One of his famous quotes is: Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. (ex-Marine had another so-called “quote” from his teenage years in one of the previous videos on Pingyao.) There are 87 sculptures of Confucius and his disciples in this temple and also an exhibitiion of the history of the ancient Chinese Examination including a Ming Dynasty examination paper from the 13th century.

Confucius Temple, Pingyao

good luck symbols hung around Confucius Temple, Pingyao, China 

worker taking a construction break in Pingyao, China
Perhaps, I’m becoming more dense with age but even reading, and re-reading this descriptive sign, didn’t give me any understanding of what it was saying…metempsychosis? It wasn’t until I wrote this article that I found metempsychosis is a fancy name for reincarnation…duh…

confusing sign at Confuscius Temple, Pingyao, China
Next, the Temple of the City God in the southeast corner of the town followed by the Ancient Government Building. ( It goes without saying that Pingyao is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) The Government Building was extremely interesting with the Prison, Courtrooms and private rooms for the Judges and Government workers.

– The front courtroom was reserved for serious offenses presided over by one judge. Prisoners were kept kneeling and there were imprints in the floor from knees.

…View image

– If the judge decided on death, he raised a red stick and they then waited for an auspicious day to decapitate the prisoner. If the sentence was only life imprisonment, the judge raised a black stick.

– Behind that court was one for civil offenses and minor crimes, e.g. not paying taxes, etc. …View image…

 

old picture of court in Pingyao, China 

a Chinese-style bed in one of the official’s rooms, Pingyao, China
Enough for one morning…lunchtime at our guesthouse…and no, this dog was not on the menu…

very fluffy Pingyao dog, China 

inside the little Chang Yi Feng Inn for lunch in Pingyao, China