Down the Mountain and Returning to Xian

With Cheng Po and Descending the Next Morning








The Burial Place of Lao Tzu

Diane at the grave marker of Lao Tzu

These are the Chang' An Mountains - a mountain range of about 400 miles along the Silk Route from Luoyang to Chang' An and West. It is here at Louguantai that Lao Tzu was stopped by the gate master. One of the princes had taken his records, so what need did he have to stay at the capital in Luoyang which was already in moral decline? The gate keeper, who was a friend of his, asked him to stay and teach. It was here that his words were written down as the Tao Te Ching.

Louguantai Taoist Temple and Chang' An Mountains

Penetrating the Darkness
Calligraphy at the Temple

Northern Shanxi Storytelling

Shaanbei Shuoshu began to study at 16 and traveled with his teacher for two years. He performs a repertoire of 80 stories, some that he makes up. He accompanies stories with singing and playing on a three stringed lute and often performs at weddings and festivals. He tells short stories with lots of energy and is animated and engaging. Shuoshu begins by introducing his lineage, and ends by blessing his listeners.





Later That Night in Xian - Overlooking the Bell Tower