The ten-thousand-character Buddha-figured coffer at Zhihua Temple is quite distinctive. Personally, I even think it’s better-looking than the starry-sky ceiling at the Xiannongtan.

Because the starry-sky ceiling is frankly too overly skilled in its woodworking—too much showy technique stacked with buffs maxed out. Instead of looking impressive, it ends up less elegant than the ten-thousand-character Buddha flower ornamentation, which feels pure and refined.

The main hall and the Wanfo Pavilion also have two large dragon-shaped coffer ceilings, but they were sold off by monks who, back then, were so poor they could hardly make ends meet—I think it’s perfectly understandable; in troubled times, people have to live. Now, they’re all in museums in the United States.