Standing at 茗山寺 (Mingshan Temple), one’s gaze should not rest solely on the exquisite statue of 文殊菩萨 (Manjusri Bodhisattva), but also turn toward the weathered, fading niches and carvings behind it. These figures, once as vivid and intricately detailed as the Bodhisattva himself, have been worn down by centuries of wind and rain. Their features erased, they now bear ripple-like patterns—like the rings of a tree—telling the silent story of time's passage. These marks of erosion are artworks co-created by nature and humankind, stark witnesses to time’s relentless hand, and guardians of enduring faith. As these ancient figures gradually vanish, we are left to ask: in the long flow of time, how should human effort and nature’s power coexist? And how can we protect these cultural relics—carriers of history and devotion—so they may continue to whisper across the centuries?