Kumarajiva's Tongue Relic Pavilion, Caotang Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Inside this delicate pavilion at Caotang Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi, is a small pagoda which holds a relic said to be the tongue of Kumarajiva (344–413). Born in the Kingdom of Kucha (now part of Western Xinjiang, China), Kumarajiva is considered one of Chinese Buddhism's greatest Sanskrit-to-Chinese translators.

An American friend of mine--a gifted translator in his own right--was privileged to have the casket inside opened for him so he could see the shriveled tongue itself!

Posted to Reddit and Bluesky, June 13, 2025

Ma-Cho Temple, San Fernando,La Union, The Philippines

[Don't miss our stop at the Pindangan Ruins on the way to this temple.]

Main Hall of the Ma-Cho Temple, note Drum (L) and Bell (R) Towers

On July 20, 2019, in celebration of my 64th birthday, Lila and I hired a car and driver to take us (with the boy) 3-1/2 hours north, to the capital city of San Fernando Province, La Union. There we visited two sites: First, the ancient ruins of the Pindangan Church (to be posted later), and then the main focus of the trip: the immense and beautiful Ma-Cho Temple on a hill overlooking the West Philippine Sea.