Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD
@peterromaskiewicz
Historian of Chinese Religions & Chinese Buddhism, interest in smell culture & aromatics; recent hummingbird whisperer, belated powerlifter, curator of Buddhas in the West Material Archive @buddhasinthewest.bsky.social
In 1881, most of Hōkō-ji burned in a fire, except the rear hall of the Hansōbō shrine. A ritual is performed in his honor on the 17th of each month, an event we were able to witness and included a "fanning" of scriptures. It was one of my favorite buildings at the monastery.
Hōkō-ji, set in the mountains of western Shizuoka Prefecture, was founded in the 14th century. It is perhaps most well-known today for the enshrinement of its tutelary deity, Hansōbō 半僧坊, which can be identified as a type of mountain goblin known as a tengu.
This year, we spent July living at Hōkō-ji 方広寺, a beautiful Buddhist temple nestled in the mountains of Hamamatsu, in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. More photos of Hōkō-ji and Japan to come. 🪷
Infinite gratitude to our wonderful staff – Pablo, Angel, Vladka, Rogelio, Ven. Weixian, Lucy, Eva, and Bernie – for all the work, patience, and humor, that made the program possible. And to all of the students who joined us this summer!
One more year of the Woodenfish Buddhist life study-abroad program is complete – and another wonderful summer with a group of thoughtful and deeply engaged students. 1: Staff (R to L): Rogelio, Pablo, Vladka, Lucy, me, Ven. Weixian, Angel 2: Group photo with Woodenfish founder Ven. Yifa & students
Kendell Geers Losing my Religion 23, 2007 Spraypaint on wood, nails, rust
"Over 100 newly restored bamboo slips are publicly displayed for the first time since their discovery...The main tomb of the Marquis of Haihun, the excavation of which was one of the most significant archaeological activities in the country in recent years..." en.people.cn/n3/2026/0415...
Guangzhou, Hua Lin Temple (500 Genii Temple), by Milton M. Miller, ca. 1860-64. Original source for the postcard below, issued by O. F. Ribeiros in 1902.
Southern Shaolin Monastery in Putain, Fujian Province, 2019.
Note how the original artist below used John Thomson's photograph from 1873 as reference to create the illustration of Gushan's temple in Fuzhou.
Photo of Whampoa Pagoda, Guangzhou, 1875. hpcbristol.net/visual/RH01-03
Map of the Tam Thai Monastery complex in the Marble Mountains near Da Nang. The monk in the hood was likely the monastery's abbot. Map from Sallet's Les Montagnes de Marbre (1925), prepared by Vietnamese mapmaker, Do Khai.
Sunrise at Zhaoming Monastery in northern Fujian province. The temple overlooks a valley where the city of Fuding is located. 2018.
Asita, the Awakened disciple with fashionable eyebrows. Mt. Emei, Sichuan. 2011.
Buddhist monastic robes store, Zherong county, Fujian, 2018.
Huading Monastery on Mount Tiantai, Zhejiang. 2016. Monks heading to vespers.
The 120ft Amitābha Buddha statue stands over Foguangshan, or Buddha’s Light Mountain, at Gaoxiong, Taiwan. 2006. The statue was constructed in 1975, making it one of the tallest Buddhist statues in the world at the time. Photo taken with one of those early 2000s digital cameras 📸🙌
Cave 20, Yungang Grottoes, near Datong, Shanxi province. 2016.
A surviving still from the now lost Great Buddha Arrival (Daibutsu Kaikoku) from 1934. #大佛廻國
Pushou Monastery, Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province. 2016. This temple is the largest and most influential Buddhist nunnery in contemporary China. It was founded in 1991 by Ven. Rurui 如瑞.
Opper's 1884 illustration was based on a magot (or pagode) figurine such as this, not a real Chinese American temple icon.
Esoteric ritual at Longquan Monastery, in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. 2016.
Southern Shaolin Monastery in Putain, Fujian Province, 2019.
Dazu Rock Carvings at Baodingshan in Chongqing. 2011.
The heads of Buddha statues trucked in during construction at Longfu Monastery, near Langfang, Hebei, 2015.
Entrance gate to Xiantong Monastery, on the eastern side of Mount Wutai, 2016.
University of Hawaii Center for Chinese Studies invites paper submission for the 5th Hawaii International Conference on Chinese Studies (1/6-1/8, 2027). Deadline for abstract submission is March 31st 2026. manoa.hawaii.edu/hiccs/ #sinology
Photos taken by pioneering Chinese photographer Lai Afong (1838/39–1890). Held by the Getty Museum. #photofriday