Grotesque images from the Buddhist Iron Temple (鐵佛寺).
Located on the Rice Mountain (米山), Mixi (米西村) village, Jincheng, Shanxi, the temple is of an unknown construction date. The earliest record on the stone pillar in the main hall dates back to the seventh year of the Dading (大定) period of the Yuan or Jin dynasties. There is evidence that the temple was reconstructed in the third year of Wanli (1575). However, in the county annals, it is mentioned no earlier than the Qing dynasty.
These astonishing, presumably Ming statues owe their creation to the proximity of an iron ore. Iron frames made it possible to give the clay figures intricate poses and frilly decor.
Seiganto-ji, Buddhist temple, Nachikatsuura, Japan: Seiganto-ji, Temple of Crossing the Blue Shore, is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. In 2004, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other locations, under the name "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". Wikipedia
Ly Trieu Quoc Su Pagoda, Buddhist temple, Hanoi, Vietnam: This Ornate restored 12th-century shrine dedicated to a Buddhist monk revered for his healing practices. This traditional Vietnamese-style temple sits just north of St. Joseph's Cathedral. It is easy to spot thanks to its pretty gate overlooking Ly Quoc Su Street. There is a great contrast between the activity of the street and the calm of the temple. It's worth a look.