Chinese Temple

Development of Chinese Buddhist Temples

• From Mid- 4th century AD to Mid- 10th century AD
  This period spans China 's Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui and Tang and Five Dynasties and Ten States. Favored by feudalist rulers, Buddhism gradually reached the height of its development from an exotic to a prevailing countrywide religion in this period. Buddhist architecture saw a great development in both numbers and size of their temples and by the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty, there were over 1400 temple in its capital city Luoyang and over 40,000 throughout the country. Temple architects began to use sophisticated courtyard complex in their temples and the layout of different buildings employed a systematic arrangement similar to the symmetrical palace structure rather than the early pagoda-centered form. Buddhist pagodas, as their roles faded away were moved to the rear part of the temple. It was in this period that the Chinese temple art took its own shape and achieved its great success.
  
  Murals from Mogao Grottoes (a noted Buddhist cave in what is now Dunhuang City ) illustrated the development of the temples in the Tang Dynasty. Temples at that time had more courtyards, halls, towers, pavilions and intricate designs and decorations are applied to eaves, roofs, balustrades, gateways and interior ceilings. The temple architecture technique reached a high level.
• From Mid- 10th century AD to 20th century
  In this period, Buddhism experienced several ups and downs before it declined in recent centuries. The Buddhist temples saw no more changes on the architecture structure. Architects concentrated on gorgeous and solemn style and the notable scale of the complex. Zhihua Temple and Guangji Temple in Beijing and Chongshan Temple in Taiyuan are fine examples of this type. Meanwhile another kind of Buddhist temples were introduced landscape scenery and different buildings such as gateways, pavilions, towers, temple halls in simple style were scattered over mountains and the temples seemingly borrowed from the surrounding hills and waters into its complex to create a harmonious integration between temple buildings and the environment. This embodies the traditional Chinese philosophy of keeping harmony with nature. Four Buddhist Holy Mountains (including Mt. Jiuhua ; Mt. Emei ; Mt. Putuo ; and Mt. Wutai ) are of this kind.

Layout of a Chinese Buddhist Temple

Chinese Buddhist temple takes the layout of traditional Chinese palace architecture as illustrated in the picture. It usually has a group of courtyards and halls set on the north-south axis with side rooms flanked symmetrically on each side. Now let me explain each for you. Mountain Gate (Shan Men) is the entrance or introductory part of the temple, usually followed by a solemn screen wall to prevent a direct peering from outside the temple. This principle can be found in most Chinese courtyard structure as well. After entering the gate there is the first courtyard, also called forecourt. Bell Tower and Drum Towers are two-storied structures, set symmetrically on each side of the yard. In the past times, bells and drums were used as a time alert. Nowadays they no longer have any function like that. In small temples, they were replaced by pavilions. There is a leading way in the middle to the Heavenly Kings Hall (variably spelt as Tian Wang Dian or Devaraja Hall), the first main hall on the axis. In this hall, a smiling Maitreya (known to the west as Laughing Buddha) is set on the middle altar. Four fierce-looking Heavenly Kings (warrior guardians) stand into two groups on each side. Leaving the Heavenly Kings Hall, you enter the second courtyard, the principle part of the temple which include the Main Buddha Hall and several flanking rooms. The Main Buddha Hall stands on a high terrace or foundation with marble balustrades. The height of the terrace or foundation depends on the importance of the temple. The hall is variably named Daxiongbaodian Hall or Hall of XX Buddha according to who are set in it. A common case is the Buddha trinity (the trinity of the three ages) including the Buddha of the Present, Sakyamuni, the Buddha of the Past, Kasyapa (Jiayefo in Chinese Pinyin) and the Buddha of the Future, Maitreya or another trinity often found in Chan temples of Sakyamuni, Amitabha (Emitofo) and Bhaisajyaguru (Yaoshifo, the God of Medicine). The case varies with different Buddhist schools and periods in which the temples were built. One thing for sure is that Buddhas or Bodhisattvas in the Main Buddha Hall are supposed to be superior to those in other halls. A huge bronze incense burner or Ding - a kind of bronze cooking vessel is used for religious or ritual ceremonies and is found in front of the Main Buddha Hall for people to burn incense for prayer. Side rooms in this courtyard house other Buddhas or reputed dignitary. Behind the Mail Buddha Hall is another courtyard with more halls serving as other purposes. A library hall, often a two-storied tower in which Buddhist sutras, scriptures, and books are kept is called Cang Jing Ge ( Sutra Keeping Tower or Sutra Hall). It is usually found at the rear part of the courtyard. Living residences or quarters are set at the corner of the rear part for monks and pupils. Most Buddhist temples follow the layout mentioned above and numbers of gates, halls and courtyards varies according to the size and scale of the temple. Taoism temples are so much like their Buddhist counterpart, taking the form of traditional Chinese courtyard and palace structure. You may become confused between these two but from the decorative figures and deities which people pray for, you can identify whether it's a Buddhist temple or a Taoism one. Unlike a Buddhist temple which has two warriors guarding the gate, a Statue of Dragon and Lion play the same role in a Taoist temple; in the main hall, the trinity San Qing (Three Pure Gods), are represented as Yu Qing (Jade Pure), Shang Qing (Upper Pure) and Tai Qing (Great Pure), the four Heavenly Emperors in Taoism replace the Buddha trinity and four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism; and the stories illustrated in Taoist murals depict a more earthly world of common people rather than holy or sacred Buddhist world and clay figures set in the hall are more like common people. Common decorative figures applied to Taoist structures include a tortoise intertwined with a snake, elephants, lions, gourds (which is said to contain the immortal pills) and other Taoism related things. If you are careful enough, you will find many Taoism principles and philosophy are applied to Taoism architecture. As we know, Timber framework is one of traditional Chinese architecture feature which defines Chinese architecture is one of the three architecture systems used in the world. China has many world famous bridges and tomb structures which are built of stones and bricks, so timber is not the only choice for Chinese architects. However there is a wide use of timber in all Chinese palace architecture, especially in Taoism. In Taoist principles, gold, wood, water, fire and earth are considered five elementary substances to form everything in the world. Timber was chosen by Chinese architects because it is derived from wood, one of the five. It is rumored that Taoism respects anything which is more of nature or closer to nature as first choice when they make choices among many alternatives. It is believed that when people live in a timber house rather than cements or stone structures, they are supposed to keep a constant exchange with nature and reach the integration of nature and human beings. That's why Taoist architectures resort to nature topography to build towers, pavilions, lobbies and other garden structural units, decorated with murals, sculptures and steles to entertain people, fully interpreting Taoist philosophy of nature. Another unique feature of Taoism temple structure is the up-turned eaves. This up-turned structure with a beautiful curve presents a volatile and lively style and symbolizes a flying to the wonderland in Taoism. Confucius was the founder of Confucianism in China , a philosopher, moralist, statesman and educationist, but no religionist head. The thoughts and teachings of Confucius have had a great influence on Chinese feudalist society in the political, philosophic and cultural fields. People built thousands of Confucius Temples, called Kong Miao or Wen Miao to commemorate him. Nowadays, nearly 300 of these temples have survived through the ages. Among them the Confucius Temples in Qufu, Shangdong Province and Beijing are very famous.

Confucius temples are quiet and peaceful!