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Tidbits!

 

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (XI'an)

 

A great statue of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang (shoo-ehn zahng) stands before the entrance to the Da Ci’en (dah-tse-ehn) Temple.  In 630, Xuanzang set out for India from Chang’an (today’s Xi’an) in his quest to learn more about Buddhism.  He walked the entire way!  Look at a map.  Trace your finger from Xi’an, China to Bihar, India (in the northwest).  Can you imagine walking that far?  After fifteen years of study, Xuanzang returned to China with books and scriptures.  He spent his remaining years at Da Ci’en Temple, translating the texts.

One of the first things he did when he returned to Xi’an was ask for a special building to be constructed to house all the important writings he brought back from India.  The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is basically a big library!  It was built in 652 and created like the pagodas Xuanzang saw on his travels.  Originally, the pagoda was 197 feet tall with five stories, but two more stories were added later.  The pagoda now stands at 211 feet.  Over his lifetime, Xuanzang translated over 1,000 volumes of text.

Come back next month for new tidbits about China!

 

China: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book

by Debbi Michiko Florence

 

China: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book by Debbi Michiko Florence, (Williamson Books, 2008)

Available for purchase, now! Order it at your favorite bookstore or online source!

Are you curious about what kids in China eat and what kind of games they play? Do you wonder what things you use today that the Chinese invented, thousands of years ago? Would you like to try speaking Chinese?

 

In China: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book, you can experience Chinese culture and history through fun activities and games, delicious recipes, and more! (For kids ages 7-14).

I am a former educator who lived in China for a little over a year and I’m looking forward to sharing my adventures with you!

To contact me, please use the email form on my contact page. Thank you!

 

 

School Visits:

I am available for school group presentations. I look forward to sharing information about China and doing activities from the book with kids!

Please contact me for more details and for information about my fees. Thank you!