The Dharma Hall, also known as Lecture Hall, is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples.[1] The Dharma Hall is the place for senior monks to preach and generally ranks right after the Mahavira Hall.[1]
| Dharma Hall | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Traditional Chinese | 法堂 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 法堂 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Lecture Hall | ||||||
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With the similar architecture form with other halls, the Dharma Hall is more spacious.[1] In the central back, there is a high platform with a sitting chair putting in the middle.[1] In front of the chair is a table with a small sitting Buddha on it, behind the platform is a screen or a picture of lion which is also known as "Roaring lion" (獅子吼) in Buddhism Dharma hung on the wall.[1] Seats are placed on both sides of the platform with bells and drums for senior monks to beat when they are preaching.[1] There are also seats on both sides of the monks' seats for laymen to listen to the Buddha Dharma by senior monks.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Zi Yan (2012-08-01). Famous Temples in China. Beijing: Time Publishing and Media Co., Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 978-7-5461-3146-7.
- ^ Wei Ran (2012-06-01). Buddhist Buildings. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press. ISBN 9787112142880.
- ^ Han Xin (2006-04-01). Well-Known Temples of China. Shanghai: The Eastern Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 7506024772.
Further reading
edit- Wang Guixiang (2016-06-17). 《中国汉传佛教建筑史——佛寺的建造、分布与寺院格局、建筑类型及其变迁》 [The History of Chinese Buddhist Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press. ISBN 9787302427056.
- Zhang Yuhuan (2014-06-01). 《图解中国佛教建筑、寺院系列》 (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN 9787515401188.
External links
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