Dongqian Lake

Dongqian lake is just utside the city of Ningbo, but somehow I never made it last year. It's the largest lake in Zheijiang province (though West Lake, in Hangzhou is more famous) and has dragon boat races in the summer. Now though, the dragon boats are parked for the season:

First we went to an area that once belonged to Fan Li, or Zhu Gong. He married one of China;s 4 great beauties, Xi Shi, and after an impressive political career (including selling Xi Shi to a rival king so that she could be a spy) retired to Dongqian (this all took place during the Spring and Autumn period, by the way, which is my favorite period name). Basically he was known for being rich, so his temple is dedicated to making money.

Here are Emily, Jeremy and I, touching a statue that repesents old style Chinese money and is supposed to make us rich:

and yes, it rained all day, but it was a great change from how hot it's been, so we didn't mind. Well, I minded when Emily flipped my hood over my head so i would look more like Kenny (Maggie is obsessed with South Park) and all the water that had pooled there ran down my spine.

Anyway, there were a number of temples with representations of Li fan and Xi Shi and places top pray to Buddhas for money. I've gotten used to the very pragmatic aspect of Chinese Buddhism--it encapsualtes a lot of taoism and is a pretty tit for tat religion. So there were plenty of oranges on the alters and people buying incense and candles for good fortune:

I dropped 10 yuan to have my fortune told. There are a bunch of sticks in big jugs, each labeled with a different element (health, career, mind, salary, etc). I choose general fortune. You pick up the jug, toss it and then kneel down, gently shaking the jug till just one stick comes out. It's harder than it looks:

Then you take your fortune stick to the monk and have Maggie translate. i learned:

1. I was very kind to come from America to hear my fortune

2. I would be responsible for my husband's success in his career

3. I probably had been a Chinese monk in a past life, or at least connected to China in some way

4. My children would study abroad

5. I have a Buddha Face, which means I have been good in past lives

6. 2010-2020 will be my prime years

7. I should remain a teacher

and

8. I should not lose my temper when situations got trying.

Then the monk asked me for american money. i don't think he wanted more cash, he just thought american money was cool. so we gave him a buck and he was delighted.

After lunch, we went out on a boat onto the lake. Besides the excitement of getting maggie into the boat (I'm not sure em or I have regained full feeling in our hands) we really enjoyed the scenery--the rain was clearing and the mist lightening, and I think if we'd been able to stop talking and laughing for a few minutes it would have been an idyllic ride: