Old House in Chongqing.
Behind inauspicious walls and insignificant entrances
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5c340cgmdwCH09_uFTR2dIUp_OhTiBB4OOmqq5Uq2WPnQtpbsO1DL_xxe1g0LeeOcdq76HBNEn4zq3R0eDYAcTT2TsM5l4kEJyiU2f0hNmXq7QW792xJ7FSTX6A1ruos-Bovag/s320/Entrance.JPG)
lies the spectacular.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK33i8vanQ87-Zl9cRWNoCpc_Nx6ivfnhLfSqJUN2SmhM58ZiwA5oEH5DxJ7xXB0zkd57OM5K6finGE_cTcKqbyOX5psdqqcpvXFeewBkYzuS89lyz6Na6atuWAW56JLbkpId0Q/s320/spectacular.jpg)
The Chinese seem to have a propensity to convert anything they revere into deities with temples and incense.
I am not sure if this is a statue of a Tao god or a Buddhist god
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNnU1M0yk5D2JjKWOovU3VVCPBF1yR3mdizv_xthSpabMmnAH4eK-FACnhuVoA9ve_-2b_PKcxRScgXaPb2921P1G0ci5As9UfT10LUAwyHv3JpuQdNIuGHetpasc0HaY86ll5w/s320/god.jpg)
- I think the former, but the part I remember was that this grand house, hemmed in now by high-rise,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2G6EJcSMT86aI7MpIpBqi4igKRrfGl1olvU6jX-OycbC6OAmtLyYwHnjgvRghPvoaasLbOGnN9bKvP4HBMB9cRPAcEgAbGA3JOqR6Ay3H3fvrk1ZKlzDNqRi9xNYW58sN-7d4cA/s320/high-rise.jpg)
was once owned by a 'foreigner' i.e. foreign to Chongqing, although still Han Chinese, and was a successful merchant who gave succour to his fellow immigrants in the form of charitable donations of rice and grain when they starved,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCFQW98JGcLGEdmUj3gRtrCI90yR6SaTWpXPgUdX7eKWM1Sn6GohpXbKgB8RpOnR-ru9pxpHS9Nk_MKe-lHtYbJKsiJ7APBSFqOt9bUu8IF_Eh6eB6KyTKcq49BsOYNrb00B8Rg/s320/starved.jpg)
and while in the west Shakespeare was inventing words for plays, so too were Chinese men inventing plays of their own, and performing them here in silken gown
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFPiihy99iMkFKWcsqnBwnJrjQrWI_Uxht7fz53MmvCksB-B4EIMOtDh_5IViEpBZNtr1mJh2-XbB2fvprqjyx7s_JNRH69RaJYRpa7g0efxwYvdhTAiOg90_YVv_MsB4wfAU9A/s320/silken_gown.jpg)
on this stage across the quadrangle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmD3JD8_NvG0lMHRG5tC3w3ymWjKHVQofbMSNgaaFxIha9d0PUjD2IwKDftZRdn2ltxhwyBDwqZ9Dtkg1TBhbg16p6R4hsOatMwHWFWMPbuT02CGRco707vqPNFTPhzX1OnX6bQ/s320/stage.jpg)
And this merchant, like all merchants, swung lanterns from balconies
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvzP9DfjzlDxoa0jY7GeSJu_OD9Z9mTok05L16_bkFuA6EtYDKlXyCX1BeBYDnzLOTwqvA0Ks4JMmxLxeyJJsXyiuyFaZS8DuhE5fFHVeyj692_Sv8q_WuyiHNh3oiVRg0SZVpQ/s320/balconies.jpg)
had quiet alcoves and hidden places
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9HCF-qNU-VgiXPioCyzBq1XP7VxoUMjSuPLo6zF6GFR-k7ItgFztReHOx5YFx8nCSIGRbM8xug_DHq8pfgG-gdWMXL3ZO6skOxkqgPMzrxuQPXBRzOV_YnOZfptxx73xRwKJdw/s320/hidden_place.jpg)
and worshipped the lion for fertility and wealth and luck
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zAyLU4CcRwS4ttcydvMKhRmUh6VGDz_CK_SeCqp-MDstclrMD4V8e_f2HtsJpGFpbKyB4I0ch4z-PycuiXWifWVHo5JUD2jbWsEN7yrxTekFBLZFEy_MyBZSO79gs51ewaxcWQ/s320/luck.jpg)
but most of all adored the youngest son of the dragon, Pixiu, for his constipation - and desired that just like him
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdYIulvUalZkBlj-CJ4jEjdE35UU7ff_0XFQyVtGXiVAEj-AW7a4cKq_oK2YnA7dlMaVFVMLQcoJAC8xAA3pIH60h13BL5N3T7IWxa9TaEcYHkk24RNO3asBkr19f8FEerTOgiQ/s320/constipation.jpg)
much money would come in, but little would come out.
lies the spectacular.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK33i8vanQ87-Zl9cRWNoCpc_Nx6ivfnhLfSqJUN2SmhM58ZiwA5oEH5DxJ7xXB0zkd57OM5K6finGE_cTcKqbyOX5psdqqcpvXFeewBkYzuS89lyz6Na6atuWAW56JLbkpId0Q/s320/spectacular.jpg)
The Chinese seem to have a propensity to convert anything they revere into deities with temples and incense.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWSVr6J5xMaDsNDJTwkmnHE3NlFapxkd6O8pf6fqDzZyyf-gVTaWh4Q-ZNN5earrjSHHPo7M1tZN7Gp3Dg66JjYzn2PKFuiFrBmIAPwVwYyZrwQAnRd0UoDplxwGpThpDmqwhVg/s320/incense.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNnU1M0yk5D2JjKWOovU3VVCPBF1yR3mdizv_xthSpabMmnAH4eK-FACnhuVoA9ve_-2b_PKcxRScgXaPb2921P1G0ci5As9UfT10LUAwyHv3JpuQdNIuGHetpasc0HaY86ll5w/s320/god.jpg)
- I think the former, but the part I remember was that this grand house, hemmed in now by high-rise,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2G6EJcSMT86aI7MpIpBqi4igKRrfGl1olvU6jX-OycbC6OAmtLyYwHnjgvRghPvoaasLbOGnN9bKvP4HBMB9cRPAcEgAbGA3JOqR6Ay3H3fvrk1ZKlzDNqRi9xNYW58sN-7d4cA/s320/high-rise.jpg)
was once owned by a 'foreigner' i.e. foreign to Chongqing, although still Han Chinese, and was a successful merchant who gave succour to his fellow immigrants in the form of charitable donations of rice and grain when they starved,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCFQW98JGcLGEdmUj3gRtrCI90yR6SaTWpXPgUdX7eKWM1Sn6GohpXbKgB8RpOnR-ru9pxpHS9Nk_MKe-lHtYbJKsiJ7APBSFqOt9bUu8IF_Eh6eB6KyTKcq49BsOYNrb00B8Rg/s320/starved.jpg)
and while in the west Shakespeare was inventing words for plays, so too were Chinese men inventing plays of their own, and performing them here in silken gown
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFPiihy99iMkFKWcsqnBwnJrjQrWI_Uxht7fz53MmvCksB-B4EIMOtDh_5IViEpBZNtr1mJh2-XbB2fvprqjyx7s_JNRH69RaJYRpa7g0efxwYvdhTAiOg90_YVv_MsB4wfAU9A/s320/silken_gown.jpg)
on this stage across the quadrangle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmD3JD8_NvG0lMHRG5tC3w3ymWjKHVQofbMSNgaaFxIha9d0PUjD2IwKDftZRdn2ltxhwyBDwqZ9Dtkg1TBhbg16p6R4hsOatMwHWFWMPbuT02CGRco707vqPNFTPhzX1OnX6bQ/s320/stage.jpg)
And this merchant, like all merchants, swung lanterns from balconies
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvzP9DfjzlDxoa0jY7GeSJu_OD9Z9mTok05L16_bkFuA6EtYDKlXyCX1BeBYDnzLOTwqvA0Ks4JMmxLxeyJJsXyiuyFaZS8DuhE5fFHVeyj692_Sv8q_WuyiHNh3oiVRg0SZVpQ/s320/balconies.jpg)
had quiet alcoves and hidden places
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9HCF-qNU-VgiXPioCyzBq1XP7VxoUMjSuPLo6zF6GFR-k7ItgFztReHOx5YFx8nCSIGRbM8xug_DHq8pfgG-gdWMXL3ZO6skOxkqgPMzrxuQPXBRzOV_YnOZfptxx73xRwKJdw/s320/hidden_place.jpg)
and worshipped the lion for fertility and wealth and luck
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zAyLU4CcRwS4ttcydvMKhRmUh6VGDz_CK_SeCqp-MDstclrMD4V8e_f2HtsJpGFpbKyB4I0ch4z-PycuiXWifWVHo5JUD2jbWsEN7yrxTekFBLZFEy_MyBZSO79gs51ewaxcWQ/s320/luck.jpg)
but most of all adored the youngest son of the dragon, Pixiu, for his constipation - and desired that just like him
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdYIulvUalZkBlj-CJ4jEjdE35UU7ff_0XFQyVtGXiVAEj-AW7a4cKq_oK2YnA7dlMaVFVMLQcoJAC8xAA3pIH60h13BL5N3T7IWxa9TaEcYHkk24RNO3asBkr19f8FEerTOgiQ/s320/constipation.jpg)
much money would come in, but little would come out.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXWOEGPzSUTP3sKOQ3NDP0nTjvP41RDo-j_vutARtTMgnHwcZtuAYpeXhCMWKnXKjufwxqPDKeeEqXaZ-RpMXo0vGxNZ2odEF9NfLi7-owtCE8XTdyrpd0_GOCfh_LMDZKRa9YQ/s320/frieze.jpg)
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