Chen Clan Academy

Park located just outside Chen Clan Academy in Guangzhou

For the HistoryBuffs...(thanks to Wikipedia)

In the late Qing Dynasty, Chen Ruinan and Chen Zhaonan, Chinese-Americans who returned to Guangzhou, proposed the idea to raise money from all the Chen clans to build a temple for the worship of their ancestors and a place for their clansman to study for the examination.^[1] Therefore, the Chen Clan Academy was finished in 1894 with the money donated by Chen families in 72 counties of Guangdong Province as well as some overseas family members. When the imperial examination system was abolished in 1905, the Chen Clan Academy was changed into the practical school of the Chens. Later in 1957, the Guangzhou City People's Committee approved the Chen Clan's Academy as a Guangzhou City preserve. Then in 1959 the government introduced a folk arts and crafts gallery into the temple. Now it serves as the Guangdong Folk Art Museum.^[3]

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This is the beautiful entrance to the Chen Clan Academy.  

The Lion and large drum were both located close to the entrance.

                                            

This large painting on the immensely big doors is one of the warrior guards

 we see at most temples.   The door knocker was also amazing.

Different artists were working throughout the academy.  This woman was doing chinese writing of your name for a small fee, and she also had the meaning of your name in Chinese.  We started out as the only people interested and in a matter of moments large crowd had gathered interested in what was happening. 

This was an awesome antique trunk, I would love this in my house,  it came 

from the Beijing (or Peking) Opera House.

Here is a picture of a courtyard area in the academy.

Beautiful Statue located at the rear of the grounds.

                                       This part of the academy had bone and ivory carving.
                  It was absolutely amazing!  Below are the six steps to carving an 11 layer ivory ball.
                                                 Also two carvings on elephant tusks.

This man painted Gabe and Mason's name inside a small glass ball.

Here are a few pictures of the amazing embroidery and sewing displays.

 

This was an exhibit on fan making.

Here are a few pictures of the intricate work done with stone and concrete.

 






Gabe bought an awesome paper cutting of a snake (his zodiac or birth year) from this man.  His hand was incredibly steady while he cut the paper.

 A beautiful vase, there was lots of pottery and glass on display also.

 
Another view of the courtyard and a closeup of the wood carvings that adorned the top of the Academy  Walls.  It was very intricate and beautiful.

  

Having some fun, our impression of the Sound of Music???

This editions, "what you don't usually see back home."  Yes folks those are flammable tanks being hauled on a scooter, five of them to be exact.  The one balancing on top looks safe doesn't it?  Snapped this pic while on the bus to school one afternoon.  I have seen many interesting things being hauled by scooter, just don't always have my camera handy.  So glad he is wearing that construction helmet, that will probably help if something should happen...