The 18 life-size murals encircling the Ji Gong Hall of Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou make a pictorial narration of the life of the legendary monk Ji Gong. Provided to China Daily
 
Jan. 29, 2012 -- Murals depicting the life story of a somewhat eccentric but immensely-adorable ascetic who lived in the Southern Song Dynasty now adorn the walls of the famed Lingyin Temple. Wu Yong reports.

Eighteen huge life-size murals depicting the life of the legendary monk Ji Gong (1130-1209) debuted at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in November.

Delicately painted on the walls of Ji Gong Hall in the temple, the 18-meter-high and 50-meter-long murals display 18 stories about Ji, a Robin Hood-like living Buddha, anecdotes about whom can be heard in every corner of the city.

Unlike the heavy paint and thick colors in Western frescoes, the Ji murals are more like a Chinese water-and-ink painting.

The murals are not painted directly on the wall, but on palettes that hang on them. The background features a yellow earth color and the drawings are mainly in black and white with some red shadows.

The quiet colors and the vague scent of mud, combining with mineral pigments, convey a sense of peace and tranquility.

Together, the 18 murals encircling the hall make a pictorial narration of monk Ji's life story.