Cropped preview; see the original photograph. The photograph does not confirm the venue’s present condition.
01 / Building stories
Read a building, discover a way of living.
The sixteenth-century octagonal plan differs from a typical longitudinal church. Following the convent’s later demolition, the church also became a fragment of a vanished ensemble.
If open, observe centre, perimeter and tiles together. Geometry may inspire imagination, but an octagon alone cannot establish a mysterious tradition.
What to notice
Confirm access and observe the octagonal space and tiles without disturbing worship.
Bi invites us to read how form expresses value. Ornament gains meaning alongside material, use and experience. Studying a joint or line brings us closer to the labour that made it.
Start with the architecture
Bi begins with material effects. Tiles and geometry change perceived distance and give a small space layers. Describe that effect before assigning it a larger symbol.
Bring the question into everyday life
Choose a daily object and one carefully made detail. Does it make use more comfortable, clearer or simply invite another look? Record your response.
Try an observation here
Pause, record one observed detail and respond to the question below. Notes can hold doubts and different opinions; leave out other people’s private information.
How does a material change your sense of a space’s size?
A contemporary cultural reading by Xiaoxiong inspired by the I Ching. The connection with the building is an editorial perspective, not the architect’s intention or a documented historical influence. It is not fortune-telling.
03 / Nearby life
A nearby table
Dining map records within three kilometres in a straight line of the reference point. Walls, railways and slopes may lengthen the journey. Check the entrance and whether the business is open.
This selection covers the current municipality. Near hills, rivers and municipal boundaries, plan transport using actual roads.
The map may omit businesses. Records do not confirm trading status, menus or bookings. Records with an address are shown by default; you can include the others.
04 / The travellers’ Bench
Sit for a while. Leave an observation.
How does a material change your sense of a space’s size?
