Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s recent trip to China included a tour of a renowned Chinese Buddhist temple, which was marked by extraordinary hospitality. Analysts are speculating that the dignitary whom the temple was actually hosting might have been none other than Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
On Sept. 23, Mr. Xi participated in the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Mr. Assad was also an invited guest at this significant event.
A day prior, the two leaders met at West Lake State Guesthouse in Hangzhou, where they jointly announced the formation of a strategic partnership between China and Syria.
A Muslim Leader Visits a Buddhist Temple
Hangzhou is renowned for its rich cultural history and numerous historical landmarks, lauded by Marco Polo as “the most splendid heaven-like city.” Syria is predominantly an Islamic nation, and the Assad family is of a Shia Muslim lineage. Given the range of historical landmarks in Hangzhou, Mr. Assad’s choice to visit a Buddhist temple—which doesn’t align with his religious beliefs—is intriguing.Unprecedented Red Carpet Treatment
During his visit to Lingyin Temple, Mr. Assad was accorded an unusually high level of courtesy. Social media posts revealed a red carpet laid from the temple’s entrance to its main hall—a day before the Syrian leader’s visit.
Red carpets are usually reserved for the formal reception of state guests and aren’t a universal courtesy extended to all. For instance, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo didn’t receive such red-carpet treatment during their respective visits to China this year. Even U.S. President Barack Obama wasn’t greeted with a red carpet during his 2016 trip to Hangzhou for the G20 Summit.
Exceptional Opening of the Main Door
In an unprecedented move that may have gone unnoticed even by Mr. Assad himself, Lingyin Temple broke with long-standing tradition by opening its main door. According to a rule believed to have been set by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty more than two centuries ago, the temple’s main door remains closed to the general public.Local tour guides often recount the legend to tourists: The Qianlong Emperor once visited the temple in disguise after hours. A young monk, not recognizing the royal visitor, refused him entry. The emperor, taking no offense, declared, “Since you won’t open the main door even for me, it shall remain closed to all henceforth.”
Xi the Likely True Guest of Honor
Taken together, these unusual occurrences lend credence to the speculation that Lingyin Temple’s actual guest of honor may have been not Mr. Assad but Mr. Xi.The Belief in the Supernatural: Xi’s Unveiled Mysticism
Lingyin Temple, founded in 326 A.D., boasts a history spanning nearly 1,700 years, making it one of China’s oldest and most venerated Buddhist temples. Situated in a setting considered extraordinarily beautiful by Huili, the Indian monk who founded it, the temple has long been a destination for emperors and notable figures throughout Chinese history.The temple is also linked with the enigmatic Ji Gong, an unconventional monk who was ostracized for his nontraditional behavior but later venerated for his medical skills and purported miracles. Despite the destruction of more than 600 temples during the CCP’s Cultural Revolution, the Lingyin Temple was spared, likely due to its historical and cultural importance.
The document, titled “Portrait of Vice President Xi Jinping: ‘Ambitious Survivor’ of the Cultural Revolution,” cites a professor—once a close friend of Mr. Xi and a long-standing contact of the U.S. Embassy—for insights into Mr. Xi’s character and beliefs.
According to this source, Mr. Xi exhibited a strong interest in Buddhist philosophy early in his career. The professor noted that during their interactions, Mr. Xi displayed a profound fascination with Buddhism, martial arts, qigong, and other esoteric practices believed to promote health, as well as sacred Buddhist sites.
While the professor couldn’t definitively say whether Mr. Xi’s interests were indicative of religious beliefs or simply a quest for physical and mental well-being, he was struck by Mr. Xi’s deep familiarity with these mystical subjects. This suggests that Mr. Xi may harbor beliefs in supernatural powers or, at the very least, has a deep-rooted interest in them.
Deciphering Xi’s Mystical Quest: Prophecies, Politics, and Perplexing Signs
Two ancient Chinese prophecies—known as the “Iron Plate Diagram” and the “Back-Pushing Sketch (Tui bei tu)”—have been clandestinely passed down through generations, despite their bans during various Chinese dynasties. Both texts carry a haunting reputation for eerily accurate foresight, and they each point to highly ominous outcomes for Mr. Xi.The last image in the Iron Plate Diagram illustrates four black birds flying between two mountain peaks, with a fifth white bird getting fatally struck on the right peak, its blood splattering onto the cliffside. The inscription below the image states, “The white-feathered bird dies upon the mountain.” Intriguingly, the current Chinese leader, who became the “fifth” leader of the CCP, has the name “Xi,” which symbolically resembles “white feather.”
According to the same sources, Mr. Xi isn’t merely cautious but deeply fearful due to his belief in the prophecies, going to lengths to neutralize perceived threats even within his Party.
If Mr. Xi did indeed offer incense to this placard, it could indicate a crisis of confidence within his regime. But for a leader who repeatedly urges Party loyalty and disdains religious faith, making a divine plea seems counterintuitive, if not hypocritical. Yet, when grappling with looming fears drawn from ancient prophecies, perhaps even Mr. Xi finds that divine intervention is his last refuge.
The enigma surrounding Mr. Xi’s secretive visit to Lingyin Temple—and the many signs and prophecies associated with it—only serves to deepen the mystery surrounding China’s most powerful man. Whether these are mere coincidences or actual indicators of a future crisis remains to be seen.
