Pillars in the main hall 

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I had never realized that stone had a soul until I saw a dragon-and-phoenix pillar. Was the soul imparted to the stone by the sculptor? Or was it the devout faith of the temple’s visitors that did it?

I couldn’t help myself. I had to reach out for a furtive touch. The smooth surface was very pleasing. The entire pillar was carved from a single piece of stone. The dragons crawling over the stone sprang right out of ancient Chinese mythology onto the pillars of Lungshan Temple, and the artful carving has added much to the beauty of the place.

The dragon-and-phoenix motif isn’t the only one found on the pillars of Lungshan Temple. There is also a flora-and-fauna motif. This is quite unusual because the pillars at most temples feature only the dragon-and-phoenix pillar motif.
The flora and fauna are symbols of spring and the beauty of human existence. The sculptors have used the flora-and-fauna motif to express the wish of the faithful to offer their very best to the gods.