Beijing: Chinese archaeologists have found a famous temple that remained hidden for nearly a millennium in China’s southwestern Sichuan province. The Fugan Temple, located in downtown Chengdu, was a famous temple that lasted from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317- 420) to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
Daoxuan, a famous Tang Dynasty (618-907) monk, once wrote that an official rite to pray for rain to end a persistent drought was held in front of the temple, and it rained as if the prayers had been heard in heaven. The story was the record of how the temple got its name, Fugan, which means “perceive the blessing.”
The popular Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi left a poem to commemorate the temple’s renovation, describing its heavenly appearance. The poem further noted the temple’s important role at that time, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. However, the building was worn down during the later period of the Tang and Song dynasties, with all traces of the temple disappearing during wars. Archaeologists unearthed more than 1,000 tablets inscribed with Buddhist scriptures and over 500 pieces of stone sculpture as well as glazed tiles with inscriptions. “We have only excavated a part of the temple’s area, but already have a glimpse of its past glory,” said Yi Li, who led the excavation project. He said they have found the temple’s foundation, ruins of surrounding buildings, wells, roads and ditches.
During the excavation, archaeologists found some 80 ancient tombs scattered near the temple, dating back to Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600-256 BC).
In the temple’s surroundings, they have unearthed large amounts of household tools and utensils and building materials dating back to various periods from the Song to Ming dynasties. Chengdu became an economic and cultural centre in western China during the Sui and Tang dynasties. The temple’s discovery could greatly contribute to the study of the spread of Buddhism in China during that time. (PTI)
Soon, magical pub to open for Harry Potter fans
London: A magical wizarding pub inspired by J K Rowling’s popular fantasy franchise Harry Potter may soon be set up in the UK, where Potterheads will be able to use wands to turn on beer taps and light floating candles.
The pub, set to be built in London, will use smart-home and Internet-of-things technology to produce magical effects. The inn will be called ‘The Cauldron’ inspired by ‘The Leaky Cauldron’, a fictitious inn from the world of Harry Potter that serves as a gateway to the wizarding world.
Matthew Cortland, a 28-year-old former teacher from New Jersey is launching a crowdfunding project to raise USD 500,000 for the pub. “Our food menu will feature dishes that are explicitly mentioned in fantasy texts. We will source our recipes and ideas for the implementation of those dishes from our community of fans,” Cortland said. “We will create spectacular science-based cocktails that look and behave like potions that are described in fantasy books,” he said. “Our resident mixologist will be tasked with using the magical elements in our pub to brew drinks that capture your imagination. It’s a boozy mix of mixology, science, and technology,” he added. The pub will also have a collection of books that visitors may read. They may even plug into a listening station and enjoy an audiobook. People who donate USD 25 or more towards the project will receive rewards including branded pint glasses and immortalisation in digital “moving wizard photos” on the pub’s walls, ‘The Times’ reported.
The technology that allows people to turn on their music system or TV using voice commands at home could be harnessed to create illusions of magic. “Internet-of-things technologies such as voice control, sensors, and connected devices will be at the core of our magic wand’s ability to control certain aspects of the pub,” Cortland said. “We are also bringing in much older technological and scientific principles, like magnetism with floating candles and chemical reactions with science-based wizarding cocktails,” he added. (PTI)