Chinese Buddhist architectural items

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Origin of Chinese Buddhist architecture

When Buddhism came to China, Buddhist architecture came along with it.

There were many monasteries built, equaling about 45,000.

These monasteries were filled with examples of Buddhist architecture, and because of this, they hold a very prominent place in Chinese architecture.

Chinese Buddhist architecture in the modern time

Today the main Buddhist architectural items include temples, pagodas, and grottos.

One of the earliest surviving example is the brick pagoda at the Songyue Monastery in Dengfeng County.

Buddhist architecture is regarded as a great art treasure where Chinese calligraphy, sculpture and Chinese painting combine.

Chinese Buddhist architectural items

The following is a non-exhaustive list of Chinese Buddhist architectural items.

Buddhist Texts Library

Buddhist Texts Library is a large building in Chinese Buddhist temples which is built specially for storing The Chinese Buddhist Canon (大藏經). It is encountered throughout East Asia, including in some Japanese Buddhist Kyōzōs (経蔵). The Chinese Buddhist Canon is the total body of Buddhist literature deemed canonical and was called “all the sutras” (一切經) in the ancient time. With four thousand kinds, it includes Āgama (經), Vinaya (律) and Abhidharma (論) texts. Āgama aretheories made by Buddha for disciples to practice, Vinaya are the rules formulated by Buddha for believers and Abhidharama are the collection of theories explanations by Buddha disciples.

Dharma Hall

The Dharma Hall, also known as Lecture Hall, is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples. The Dharma Hall is the place for senior monks to preach and generally ranks right after the Mahavira Hall.

Hall of Four Heavenly Kings

The Hall of Four Heavenly Kings or Four Heavenly Kings Hall, referred to as Hall of Heavenly Kings, is the first important hall inside shanmen in Chinese Pure Land Buddhist temples and Chan Buddhist temples and is named due to the Four Heavenly Kings statues enshrined in the hall.

Hall of Guru

The Hall of Guru or Guru Hall, also known as the Founder’s Hall, is the most important annex halls in Chinese Buddhist temples for enshrining masters of various Buddhism schools. It is encountered throughout East Asia, including in some Japanese Buddhist Kaisandos (開山堂). The Hall of Guru is generally situated to the west of the Mahavira Hall. Chan Buddhist temples usually have the Hall of Guru, which is followed by other schools’ temples. Therefore three statues are always enshrined in the Guru Hall, namely the founder of the school, the senior monk who make significant contributions to the establishment of the school and the builder of the temple. Generally the Guru Hall in Chan Buddhism temples has Bodhidharma enshrined in the middle, the 6th Master Huineng’s (638-713) statue on the left and Master Baizhang Huaihai’s (720-814) statue on the right. Patriarch Bodhidharma and Damo for short, from south of ancient India, was the original ancestor of Chan Buddhism. The 6th Master Dajian Huineng was the actual founder of Chan Buddhism. After him, the Chan Buddhism in ancient China was almost changed and had far-reaching influence on Chinese traditional culture. Baizhang Huaihai was the third generation disciple of Huineng and his main achievements included: applying Chan Buddhism into practice, creating a set of regulations for Chan Buddhist temples and contributing to the steady development of Chan Buddhism.

Shanmen

The Shanmen, also known as the Gate of Three Liberations, is the most important gate of a Chinese Chan Buddhist temple.

Arhat Hall

The Arhat Hall is mainly for enshrining Arhat in Han Chinese Buddhist temples. Arhat is short for Arahant, meaning self-enlightened. In the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism, Arhats rank the third position in Buddhism, only below the Buddha and Bodhisattva. In the Theravada tradition of Buddhism, Arhats rank the highest the Karma position. Buddhists believe that Arhats position means to free oneself from being troubled and from the circle of rebirth.

Bell tower (Chinese Buddhism)

The Bell tower is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples. Together with Drum tower, they are usually placed on both sides of the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. It is usually located on the left side while the Drum tower is usually located on the right side. It is general a three-storey pavilion with a large bell hung in it. The loud and melodious sound of the bell is often used to convene monks. In each morning and night, beating the bell 108 times symbolizes the relief of the 108 kinds of trouble in the human world.

Drum tower (Chinese Buddhism)

The drum tower is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples. Together with a bell tower, they are usually placed on both sides of the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. It is usually located on the right side while the bell tower is usually located on the left side. It is general a three-storey pavilion with a big drum placed on it. When it is beaten, it sounds grandly and loudly. Buddhist templea set times to beat the drums to inform the time and also wake people up.

Free Life Pond

The Free Life Pond is an annex pond of the Han Chinese Buddhist temples. It is usually located in front of the Shanmen or the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. The Free Life Pond embodies Buddhist thoughts of compassion and understanding of all living beings.

Hall of Bhaisajyaguru

The Hall of Bhaisajyaguru is the hall to enshrine Bhaisajyaguru, who is also named “Yaoshifo” for short in Chinese Buddhism.

Hall of Guanyin

The Hall of Guanyin or Guanyin Hall is the most important annex halls in Chinese Buddhist temples and mainly for enshrining Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara). Guanyin, also called “Guanshiyin” (觀世音), “Guanshizizai” (觀世自在), “Guanzizai” (觀自在), etc., is the attendant of Amitabha and one of the “Western Three Saints” (西方三聖). Guanyin is renowned for his mercy and sympathy. According to Chapter of the Universal Gate of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva (《觀世音菩薩普門品》), if people are in danger, they just need to call his name and he will hear them and go to save them. Since he has many manifestations, different places enshrine different statues of Saint Guanyin (圣觀音), Guanzizai (觀自在), and Thousand-armed and eyed Guanyin (千手千眼觀音菩薩).

Hall of Kshitigarbha

The Hall of Kshitigarbha or Hall of Kshitigarbha Hall is the most important annex halls in Chinese Buddhist temples and Kshitigarbha is enshrined in it.

Hall of Sangharama Palace

The Hall of Sangharama Palace is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples. It is the east annex hall of the Mahavira Hall. “Sangharama” with the short form “garan” (僧伽藍摩), means “gardens of monks” (眾園). In Buddhism, it originally refers to constructing the base of monks’ dormitories (僧舍) and later it refers to the general term of temples, including land and buildings.