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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD

@peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social
2.1K followers 797 following 247 posts

Historian of Chinese Religions & Chinese Buddhism, interest in smell culture & aromatics; recent hummingbird whisperer, belated powerlifter, curator of Buddhas in the West Material Archive @buddhasinthewest.bsky.social

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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 1h
Very little information on this curious structure, but similar to the well-known Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. No reports seem to mention it after the 1910s - perhaps it toppled over? A copy of the photo used as the basis for Ahuja's postcard is tentatively dated to 1895, see below; unknown photographer.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Zhang Huan's Berlin Buddha, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 2014. Monumental ash sculpture of Buddha, made from 6 tons of ash from burned incense; ash was poured into an aluminum mold. publicdelivery.org/zhang-huan-a...
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Portrait of a man in a camera costume, c.1860–1880. Attributed to Carleton Watkins, held by Getty [www.getty.edu/art/collection/object…]
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Hōkō-ji's Hansōbō Shrine, July 2026.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
In 1881, most of Hōkō-ji burned in a fire, except the rear hall of the Hansōbō shrine. A ritual is performed in his honor on the 17th of each month, an event we were able to witness and included a "fanning" of scriptures. It was one of my favorite buildings at the monastery.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Hōkō-ji, set in the mountains of western Shizuoka Prefecture, was founded in the 14th century. It is perhaps most well-known today for the enshrinement of its tutelary deity, Hansōbō 半僧坊, which can be identified as a type of mountain goblin known as a tengu.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
This year, we spent July living at Hōkō-ji 方広寺, a beautiful Buddhist temple nestled in the mountains of Hamamatsu, in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. More photos of Hōkō-ji and Japan to come. 🪷
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Infinite gratitude to our wonderful staff – Pablo, Angel, Vladka, Rogelio, Ven. Weixian, Lucy, Eva, and Bernie – for all the work, patience, and humor, that made the program possible. And to all of the students who joined us this summer!
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
One more year of the Woodenfish Buddhist life study-abroad program is complete – and another wonderful summer with a group of thoughtful and deeply engaged students. 1: Staff (R to L): Rogelio, Pablo, Vladka, Lucy, me, Ven. Weixian, Angel 2: Group photo with Woodenfish founder Ven. Yifa & students
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Tao Nightclub, NYC. From IG
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Kendell Geers Losing my Religion 23, 2007 Spraypaint on wood, nails, rust
Wooden statue of the Buddha on lotus pedestal, covered in large wood nails
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
"Over 100 newly restored bamboo slips are publicly displayed for the first time since their discovery...The main tomb of the Marquis of Haihun, the excavation of which was one of the most significant archaeological activities in the country in recent years..." en.people.cn/n3/2026/0415...
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Guangzhou, Hua Lin Temple (500 Genii Temple), by Milton M. Miller, ca. 1860-64. Original source for the postcard below, issued by O. F. Ribeiros in 1902.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Southern Shaolin Monastery in Putain, Fujian Province, 2019.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Note how the original artist below used John Thomson's photograph from 1873 as reference to create the illustration of Gushan's temple in Fuzhou.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Photo of Whampoa Pagoda, Guangzhou, 1875. hpcbristol.net/visual/RH01-03
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Map of the Tam Thai Monastery complex in the Marble Mountains near Da Nang. The monk in the hood was likely the monastery's abbot. Map from Sallet's Les Montagnes de Marbre (1925), prepared by Vietnamese mapmaker, Do Khai.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Sunrise at Zhaoming Monastery in northern Fujian province. The temple overlooks a valley where the city of Fuding is located. 2018.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Asita, the Awakened disciple with fashionable eyebrows. Mt. Emei, Sichuan. 2011.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
View inside Shengshou Monastery in Wenzhou. 2014.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Buddhist monastic robes store, Zherong county, Fujian, 2018.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Huading Monastery on Mount Tiantai, Zhejiang. 2016. Monks heading to vespers.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
The 120ft Amitābha Buddha statue stands over Foguangshan, or Buddha’s Light Mountain, at Gaoxiong, Taiwan. 2006. The statue was constructed in 1975, making it one of the tallest Buddhist statues in the world at the time. Photo taken with one of those early 2000s digital cameras 📸🙌
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Cave 20, Yungang Grottoes, near Datong, Shanxi province. 2016.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
A surviving still from the now lost Great Buddha Arrival (Daibutsu Kaikoku) from 1934. #大佛廻國
Image shows Great Buddha towering over building sin Nagoya. From
April 15, 1934 issue of The International News Photo Weekly.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Pushou Monastery, Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province. 2016. This temple is the largest and most influential Buddhist nunnery in contemporary China. It was founded in 1991 by Ven. Rurui 如瑞.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Opper's 1884 illustration was based on a magot (or pagode) figurine such as this, not a real Chinese American temple icon.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Esoteric ritual at Longquan Monastery, in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. 2016.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Southern Shaolin Monastery in Putain, Fujian Province, 2019.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Dazu Rock Carvings at Baodingshan in Chongqing. 2011.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
The heads of Buddha statues trucked in during construction at Longfu Monastery, near Langfang, Hebei, 2015.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Entrance gate to Xiantong Monastery, on the eastern side of Mount Wutai, 2016.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
University of Hawaii Center for Chinese Studies invites paper submission for the 5th Hawaii International Conference on Chinese Studies (1/6-1/8, 2027). Deadline for abstract submission is March 31st 2026. manoa.hawaii.edu/hiccs/ #sinology
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Photos taken by pioneering Chinese photographer Lai Afong (1838/39–1890). Held by the Getty Museum. #photofriday
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
The missionary exhibition, the World in Boston, took place in the spring of 1911 before moving to Cincinnati. Here is a souvenir postcard showing the Japan Scene in Boston, below is the same display in Cincinnati a year later. The exhibit continued to Baltimore and then Chicago in 1913.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Raphael Tuck’s complete 6 card “Oilette” set for Tibet with cover, circa 1905. Early 20th century postcards were one of the main ways images of Buddhist material culture circulated in Europe/US.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Photographs of Japan taken by Wilhelm Burger as member of the Imperial Austrian Expedition to East Asia in 1870. Held by the British Library.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Giant pair of 19th c. Japanese prayer beads with baseball-sized bead-shrines housing tiny Buddhist icons. Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Laughing Buddha teapot and tea canister. Chelsea, England, c. 1745-1749. Museum of Fine Art, Boston.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Laughing Buddha Smoking a Pipe, made in Delft, Netherlands between 1700-1725 with Qing era Buddha in white porcelain from 1740. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Contemporary artist Tokuhiro Kawai depicts cats as furry saints! Current show "Altarpiece of Cat Adoration" in Tokyo now: tinyurl.com/2ew694rh #caturday
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
At the #Shōsōin Exhibition: Very large brush used by Bodhisena to dot the eyes of the Great Buddha in Nara during the eye-opening consecration ceremony in 752. Also, the blue cord attached to the brush which observers held to receive merit for the act. www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur... #正倉院
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
On display at the #Shōsōin Exhibition in Nara: 8th century bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. Chemical analysis shows mirror was made in China before becoming part of the collection of Emperor Shōmu (r. 724–749). www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur... #正倉院
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco: "Through x-ray imaging, our conservators reveal the hidden structures and stories sealed inside these centuries-old sculptures. For the first time, we offer a hauntingly beautiful glimpse inside some of the museum’s oldest objects." (on IG)
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Contemporary artist Yuma Matsumoto makes giant figures out of straw. His most recent was a giant cat. Recent work: awrd.com/creatives/us... #caturday
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
The 77th Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures opens today and includes a large piece of scented aloeswood, said to be the “World’s Most Famous Aromatic.” It can be dated to the 12th century, although some believe it's much older. #正倉院 #蘭奢待
Images shows the famed "Ranjatai" aloeswood piece on display in a clear glass vitrine. It is a golden-colored piece of resinous wood with dark exterior; it's 1.56 meters long and weights 11.6 kilograms
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Engravings of Kamakura's Hachiman Shrine pagoda were used in Aimé Humbert's works on Japan in the 1860s/70s. The Parisian lithographer copied the same image decades later, likely unaware the pagoda had been destroyed in 1870.
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Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, LA #31daysofgraves #cross
Image shows stone grave with carved woman grasping on to a large cross with lettering saying “to thy cross I cling.”
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