Editor’s note: Houston-based SWA photographer Jonnu Singleton visited Foshan, China, in the summer of 2015 to document the firm’s Thousand Lantern Lake Park System when it was a finalist for the ULI Urban Open Space Award. Jonnu trained his lens on the region’s rich historic and cultural legacy that gave rise to the multilayered project, which subsequently won the award. He shares a slideshow of his impressions here.
Photo Captions:
1. Foshan means Buddha Hill, owing to the three large bronze statues that were unearthed atop Tapo Hill, in 628, during the Tang dynasty.
2. Foshan’s dragon boat festival annually celebrates its heritage of canals and waterways. During the highly attended event teams of 15+ men per boat battle the clock to negotiate the narrow canals with the fastest time.
3. Situated within the Pearl River Delta, between Guanzhou to the north and Shenzhen to the south, Foshan is blessed with an abundance of both freshwater and ocean going seafood.
4. Buddha’s Hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) is a uniquely shaped citrus fruit prized for the fragrant aroma it imparts and its symbolic gesture of the Buddha’s closed hands of prayer. Believed to bring longevity and happiness, this fruit is a common religious offering and gift of good fortune.
5. This common incense burned throughout China resembles a mosquito repellent coil. Its ever-present sweet smell and ethereal haze waft throughout Foshan, and many incense shrines adorn the entrances of homes and villages to ward off evil spirits and to bring good luck to the inhabitants.
6. This wooden dummy (muk yan jong) is used in the practice of Wing Chun Kung Fu, a form of martial art that would become the most widely known Kung Fu style throughout the world and was first popularized in the West by Bruce Lee. Wing Chun Kung Fu originates from Foshan, and in 2004 the city was honored with the distinction of being “the city of martial arts” in China.
7. The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln consists of two terraced-roofed kilns that climb up a small hill and flank a central staircase, oriented to channel southerly winds and continuously stoke the flames of the fire within. It is the oldest continuously running dragon kiln in China, built in the 1500s and is still used today.
8. The ceramics in this region are regarded as some of China’s best and are highly sought after by collectors. Known mostly for large sculptural pieces and expressive figurines, Shiwan ceramics are also coveted for fine tile work and earthenware dishes.
9. Entering the Shiwan Ceramic Town adjacent to the kilns is like stepping back in time. This sub-district within Foshan is now a protected site that has been completely restored.
10. Here a traditionally decorated wedding temple adorned with lush red curtains and paper lanterns, lit only by oil lamps and an open-air roof, seduces the gaze and offers a glimpse into a once private realm.
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