Temple, Pagoda And Grotto Flashcards
Han Buddhism Temple: KEY IDEAS
Emphasizing both self-benefit and benefiting the others
With the ultimate goal of achieving Buddhahood to help all sentient beings
Tibetan Buddhism Temple: KEY IDEAS
Emphasizing both self-benefit and benefiting the others
With the ultimate goal of achieving Buddhahood to help all sentient beings
Theravada Buddhism Temple: KEY IDEAS
Focusing on self-liberation
Aiming for personal enlightenment by eliminating one’s own suffering
Han Buddhism Temple (Mahayana Buddhism): ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS
Layout: symmetrical layout with a central axis, reflecting order, balance and hierarchy
Key elements: multiple courtyards leading to the main hall, where Buddhz statue is enshrined
Colors: neutral Colors for solemn
Roof : Hip Roof, Gable and Hip Roof
Appearance: serenity and grandeur, Wooden structures intricately decorated with carvings
Tibetan Buddhism Temple (Mahayana Buddhism): ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Layout: Normally irregular due to the region’s geography and spiritual practices. Usually built on elevated ground for a closer connection to the divine
Key elements: similar to Han Buddhism Temple
Colors: brightly painted with white and red
Roof: flat roof
Appearance: more monumental and fortress-like, with thick walls
Tibetan Buddhism Temple (Mahayana Buddhism): ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Layout: Normally irregular due to the region’s geography and spiritual practices. Usually built on elevated ground for a closer connection to the divine
Key elements: similar to Han Buddhism Temple
Colors: brightly painted with white and red
Roof: flat roof
Appearance: more monumental and fortress-like, with thick walls
Theravada Buddhism Temple: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS
Layout: simpler, more compact layouts compared to Mahayana temples
Key elements: prominent use of stupad or pagodas, representing the relics of the Buddha
Colour: bright gold or pure white (symb enlightenment)
Roof: often tiered with intricate woodwork
Appearance: richly decorated, with detailed ornamentation that conveys spiritual and cultural symbolism
Evolution of typical layouts of temple: What is the period of Centered on “Stupa Court”?
Han-Wei-Western Jin Period
Evolution of typical layouts of temple: What is the period of Palace Layout (Buddha Hall)?
Tang and Song Dynasty
Evolution of typical layouts of temple: What is the period of Residential Hiuse Layout (Buddha Hall)?
The Two Jin Dynasties and Sui and Tang Dynasties
What are the characters of the Stupa Court?
Adopted the towers as the principal buildings which were called «futu» or «fotu»
Worshippers could walk around the stupa as part of their spiritual practice, symbolizing the path of enlightenment
What are the characters of the Palace Layout?
The increasing size and significance of Buddhist statues led to larger Buddha halls.
Some of the large temples built by the authorities were comparable to palaces in scale and design
Architectural elements were arranged symmetrically around the Buddha Hall, reflecting the hierarchical structure of Buddhist life
A spiritual center and self-sustaining community, which is not only for worship but also supports a variety of functions
What are the characters of the Residential House Layout during the Two Jin Dynasties?
Some upper class Buddhist followers donated their mansions for temples
Preserved the basic courtyard compound layout of the mansions; front hall-Buddha hall, rear hall - lecture hall
What are the characters of the Residential House Layout during Sui and Tang Dynasties?
Features symmetrical courtyard layouts with surrounding corridors and corner towers
The front hall served as the main structure
What happened during Ming and Qing Dynasties about the Buddhist architecture?
It became standardised : religious area in the center
Public area on the left (Arhat Hall and Pilgrim Area)
Living area of the Monks on the right
Describe the evolution of typical layouts of temples
The earlier tower-centered design gradually declined, with towers moved to the sides or behind the main hall, or sometimes omitted entirely
Evolution of the Stupa of India
Later India Stupa developed from a grave into a symbol of Buddha
Originally : 5 parts : podium, overturned bowl, treasure case, sacred wheel, tower spire
After : Podium+Overturned bowl, Treasure case, Sacred wheel
Give all the evolution of Chinese Buddhist Tower
- The Period of Simplicity :
» One story Pagoda
» Simple Multi story Pagoda
» Multi-eave Pagoda
» The Stupa - The Period of Elaboration:
» Multi-story Pagoda
» Dense-Eave Pagoda
» Sutra Pillar - The Period of Variety:
»Glazed Pagoda
» Lamaist Stupa
» Five-Pagoda Cluster
Dates of Period of Simplicity
ca. 500-900
One story Pagoda
Period of Simplicity
Tomb monument for the deceased monks
Simple Multi story Pagoda
Period of Simplicity
Stacking of the form of one-story pagoda
Multi-eave Pagoda
Period of Simplicity
Simple and sturdy design
Minimal decoration, focus on function
Basic materials (brick, stone, wood)
To be compared to the Dense-Eave Pagoda
The Stupa
Period of Simplicity
In the form of Indian stupad with nearly hemispherical bodies
Frequently depicted in the mural painting on the Dunhuang Caves
Dates of Period of Elaboration
ca. 1000-1300
Multi story Pagoda
Rectangular shaped to Octogonal shaped
Delicate wooden structure
Eg: The Sakyamuni Pagoda
Dense-Eave Pagoda
Élégant, intricate shapes
Rich decorations (carvings, motifs)
Luxurious materials (gilding, glazed tiles)
To be compared with Multi Eave Pagoda
Sutra Pillar
Engraved stone or wooden pillars, often octagonal or hexagonal
Erected as religious offerings, symbolizing the spread of Buddhist teachings
Engravings include Buddhist scriptures, donor names, and decorative motifs like lotus flowers and Buddhist deities
Serve both religious and decorative purposes, commonly found in temple courtyards or pathways
Case study - Sakyamuni Pagoda
Fogong Temple
Built during Liao Dynasty in 1056
One of the most iconic and well preserved examples of ancient China wooden architecture
67m tall, tallest wooden pagoda in China
Five stories on the outside but 9 levels internally including hidden floors
Each story features beautifully crafted eaves, extending outward in intricate wooden layers, showcasing the precision and elegance of traditional Chinese architectural design.
Jinxiang Doudicao structure of the Sakyamuni Pagoda at Fogong Temple
Intricate dougong and beams that distribute the weight of the upper stories down to the base, reinforcing the entire building without nails.
Pillars arranged in 2 rings, between them: inclined pieces to create 4 rings of significant rigidity
Dates of Period of Variety
ca. 1280-1012
Glazed Pagoda
After fall of Jin dynasty dense-eave pagoda no longer popular
Best preserved glazed pagoda : Fei-hong Pagodas of Guangsheng Temple
Lamaist Stupa
Tibetan Buddhist Pagoda
Overturned-bowl structure
Usually in pure white color
E.g: White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple (B), White Pagoda (B), White Lama Pagoda (Yangzhou)
Five-Pagoda Cluster
Period of Variety
A form of Buddhist stupa originating from India (each pagoda represents one of five Buddhas of the Vajra Realm)
Include multiple eave, pavilion, overturned bowl style
Construction forms : indépendant buildings, component at the pinnacle of Buddha halls, parts of the tower spire
E.g.: Temple of Azure Clouds (B), Zhenjue Temple «Temple of the Great Righteous Awakening» (B)
What is a Grotto?
Grotto=Cave+Stuppa
What is a Bikoro Cave?
Monastic living quarters. Designed with simplicity, it often features sleeping quarters, meetings rooms, and storage spaces
What is a Chaitya Cave?
For meditation and devotion
The central stupa acted as a focal point
Changes since the introduction of grottos into China
People added Chinese timber framed eaves as protection and built Chinese-style temples nearby to make it a worship place
Localized Chinese Grotto Types
Stupa Courtyard Grotto
Screen Background Grotto
Buddha Hall Grotto
Stupa Courtyard Grotto
The most frequently found type and of the largest number
Closely resembles that of the Indian Chaitya cave
Numerous Buddhist statues are carved, the tight space is unsuitable for monks to lecture or accomodate large groups of worshippers
Screen Background Grotto
A completely Sinicized type
There is a main statue and the other statues are all built laterally on its two sides
Buddha Hall Grotto
Sculpted according to the arrangement of the Chinese Buddha hall and ritual spatial order
Large interiors that can accommodate many people
Well-suited to Chinese cultural practices, leading to more widespread construction in later dynasties
