Buddhism originated in India and spread to most of the countries of Asia including China, Thailand, Japan, Laos, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The architecture of Buddhist temples generally resembles the building traditions of India, China or Japan. They may appear drastically different from one country to another, so it is important to recognize certain characteristics and know a little regional history to find them.
Surroundings
Take note of the temple's natural setting. In India or Japan, the temple will integrate and blend in with its surrounding. In China, temples are built on elaborate courtyards resembling emperor's palaces. All of the buildings in Tang dynasty-style courtyards are symmetrically aligned along a common axis. Confucian-style temples align the worship hall, entry gate and walking path along a north to south axis.
Placement
Notice whether you have to look up to see the temple or if you can look straight ahead. Many temples of Japan and India, also known as grottos, were built into hollowed out mountainsides and caves to protect them from warring factions. You have to look up to see temples that seem to emerge naturally out of stone and trees.
If you can see the temple straight ahead while standing on level ground, it was built in the Chinese style. The first thing you will notice with these is an elaborate courtyard with three sets of buildings. Some look very symmetrical and manufactured while Zen Buddhists incorporate rock gardens and ponds in their courtyards for an appearance of greater balance with nature.
Gateway
Look for the gateway as you approach a temple courtyard. It may be arched like the Japanese Shinto-style gates or completely linear.
Pagodas
Walk through the gateway and down the courtyard entryway and the first building facing you will be a pagoda. Pagodas are stand-alone temples in the absence of courtyards and are central worship halls in courtyards. In India they are gilded and shaped like pyramids with steeples on top. In other Buddhist countries like Japan and China they are typically painted rectangular structures with tiled roofs that curve upward. Rectangular pagodas also normally have seven or nine layer roofs.
Look up if you are visiting a Chinese Buddhist temple. Every layer of a pagoda roof will have four dragon-like images representing the "four heavenly kings" or "Devas" of the religion.
Construction Materials
Examine the construction materials of the temple. Most Buddhist temples are built from either weather-resistant timber or cypress wood or a wood and stone combination. Wood is more common because it allows for carving.
References:
- Lehrmach: TANG-era Buddhist Temples in Japan
- Buddhist Tourism: The Buddhist Architecture
- Buddhist Studies: A Chinese Buddhist Temple
- History World: Buddhist and Hindu Architecture
- Japanese Buddhist Statuary; Temples in Japan; Mark Schumacher
Sarah McLeod - Sarah McLeod began writing professionally for the federal government In 1999. In 2002, she was trained by Georgetown University's Oncology ...
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