Have you seen those breathtaking aerial photos of a solitary ginkgo tree in a courtyard, its leaves creating a perfect golden carpet of fallen leaves? This isn't just any tree—it's a 1,400-year-old living witness to history, standing tall within the walls of China's Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple.While its stunning autumn transformation goes viral online each year, the story behind this magnificent being remains largely unknown to Western audiences. Why was this particular tree planted at this particular temple? Could it really have been placed there by Emperor Taizong himself, one of China's most celebrated rulers? Why are ginkgo trees so special?Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this famous ginkgo tree and explore its remarkable connection to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty.GuestsProfessor Ruihong DiNorthwest UniversityXi'an, Shaanxi Province, ChinaPeter Del TrediciUrban Ecologist and BotanistArnold Arboretum of Harvard UniversityBoston, MAwww.peterdeltredici.comWild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field GuideReaderWiley WangMachine Intelligence EngineerPalm Springs, CA"Traditional Folk Tale of Gu Guanyin Temple" edited by Doug StillVoiceover Reading for Ruihong DiMartha Douglas-OsmundsonLinkedIn ProfileMusic"Farewell at the Yangguan Pass," traditional, Tang DynastyXiao-zhong Wu soloistPeople's Association Chinese Orchestra1992 Yellow RiverOther ReferencesThe Ruler's Guide: China's Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success, Chinghua Tang, Scribner, 2017.Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot, Peter Crane, Yale University Press, 2013.Photo CreditFlyOverChina, Xinhua News AgencyTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to:[email protected] episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

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