How are Buddhist temples arranged? Buddhist temples and monasteries. in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
The Buddhist religion and culture over time has spread far beyond the borders of India. In the 1st century AD, in the Kushan state (Northwest Hindustan), Buddhist religious buildings - stupa sanctuaries, cave and ground temples - were actively built. In Bactria there was a huge Buddhist monastery where 3000 monks lived.
The Buddhist temples of Kushana were decorated in large quantities with sculpture.
Until recently, a monument of world significance were two huge sculptures - Small Buddha (35 meters, 2nd century BC) and Big Buddha (53 meters, 1st century AD) in the Balshan Valley in the center of Afghanistan (blown up by the Taliban).
On the basis of cult sculpture, Kushan craftsmen created a secular gallery, and a palace-dynastic one - portraits of rulers, heroes, nobles.
In the first centuries AD, Buddhism spread to China. The symbol of this religion here was not a stupa, but a multi-tiered pagoda tower. The pagodas of the ancient era were made of wood and have not survived. In the 8th century, a peculiar roof shape appeared in China - with curved edges, often decorated with relief and sculpture. This curvature comes from the transition from the steep gable roof of the main building to the surrounding veranda. The roof was the main accent of the architectural composition.
Pagodas dating back to the early Middle Ages were distinguished
monumentality and simplicity of style. Later buildings are complex
silhouette with curved eaves overhangs, with fractional plastic walls.
As one of the architectural elements of Buddhist temple complexes in China, there are “purification gates”, richly decorated with sculpture, carvings, and colors.
There are many active Buddhist temples and monasteries in China. One of the most impressive is the Lunming (Dragon Gate) cave temple, in whose numerous grottoes and niches there are more than 100 thousand statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas. The monotonous monotony of beautiful sculptures surprisingly calms a person, helping him to escape from the vanity of the world around him.
The most famous Buddhist cave temple in China is Shaolin (it is carved into a rock near the Yellow River). This monastery is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and a recognized center for the martial art of wushu. The specifics of the monastery are reflected in a unique sculpture gallery created in one of the courtyards. Wooden sculptures depict shaven-headed monks engaged in training battles. The figures are very realistic and expressive. Shaolin monks have been perfecting the martial art for centuries.
The most ancient is the Baima (White Horse) monastery in the vicinity of Luoyang. It was here on white horses in the 1st century AD. brought the first books of the Buddhist canon and a statue of Buddha.
Many late Buddhist monasteries have survived in Thailand. In Bangkok there is the Phra Kaew monastery with the world famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and here is the most ancient monastery of the Thai capital Chetupon (Wat Pho). This monastery is famous for its largest temples and the learning of its monks. In the main temple there is a huge statue of a reclining Buddha (46 meters long and 15 meters high), covered with gold. Bells are quietly ringing under the arches of the temple...
A unique late Buddhist cultural monument has been preserved in
Indonesia.
In the center of the island of Java stands the Buddhist temple of Borobudur, one of the most beautiful buildings of oriental architecture. It is more than 11 centuries old. It was built according to the design of the architect Gunadharma in the 8th century. Borobudur Temple is built on a natural hill with an oblong shape. The central step pyramid stands on a square base measuring one hectare. Above the base rise terraces covered in bas-relief and decorated with 462 Buddha statues. Even higher are three circular terraces on which there are 72 openwork stupas with Buddha statues inside. At a height of 35 meters above the ground, the structure is completed by a large closed and empty stupa, symbolizing the contemplation of the Supreme Truth or Nivana. Stairs lead to the top of the pyramid, and the entrances are guarded by stone lions. Borobudur Temple is characterized by original elements that distinguish it from other Buddhist monuments.
Buddhism came to Japan from Korea in the 6th century. Therefore, Buddhist temples were built there by Korean and Chinese architects. One of these temples, a Chinese-style Buddhist temple with a pagoda (7th century), is well preserved in Nara (the ancient capital of Japan) and is a national shrine.
Japanese Buddhist temples are almost always recognized by their red gates. The interiors of the temples are brightly painted. In the depths of the temple there is a statue of Buddha.
The heart of the Great Steppe - Mongolia - became acquainted with the foundations of Buddhism in the 7th century. Under Ogedei Khan, in honor of his enthronement, the first Buddhist temple was founded in the then capital of Mongolia, Karakorum (destroyed in the 14th century).
Since the end of the 16th century, the northern, Tibetan branch of Buddhism has been spreading in Mongolia. In the valley of the Orkhon River, the complex of the Buddhist monastery Erdene-Zud (“precious treasure”) was created. The territory of the monastery is surrounded by a wall with 107 towers-suburgans, original sanctuaries-mausoleums.
The first behind the fence is the Dalai Temple - Lamyk, dedicated to
High Priest of Tibet Dalai Lama. The lower part of the building is lined with blue brick, above there is a parapet with a strip of frieze with gilded mirrors embedded in the masonry of the wall.
The flourishing of Buddhist culture in Mongolia is associated with the name of Janabazar, an outstanding statesman and religious figure, a talented poet, architect, and sculptor. In his works he followed the Buddhist canons, but his work is broader than any canon, any religion. He became famous for creating five huge bronze statues of Dhyani (Buddhas of Contemplation).
The sculpture of Vajradara (a Buddhist deity), created in strict Buddhist canons, was preserved and became the main shrine of the Gandan monastery in Ulaanbaatar (at that time it was the Khan’s headquarters of Ugra).
Until now, in the museum of Ulaanbaatar, from the depths of centuries, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, White Tara, smiles at us, protecting people from evil. There were twenty such figures, and the twenty-first Tara smiles at us with the smile of the artist’s beloved girl.
Ugra was not only the capital of the state, but also the center of Buddhism in Mongolia. And the Gandan monastery was an almost independent city in the capital. There was also a higher spiritual educational institution of Lamaism here, where students from Buryatia, Tyva, and Kalmykia studied.
The interiors of the monastery churches still amaze with both their magnificent sculpture and the richness of the color schemes of the interiors. Gold, turquoise, coral, and ocher were ground to obtain certain colors.
All elements of the temple, including painted icons and objects of decorative and applied art, are subordinated to a single compositional concept.
Lamaism, using the heritage of the artistic culture of the Mongolian people, managed to develop all types of artistic creativity and put them at the service of religion.
Conclusion
Buddhism in the modern world - a world of wars, terrorism, unbelief, finds
more and more supporters. The first truth of Buddhism, “Everything in the world is full of evil and suffering,” perfectly characterizes the 21st century. And if not the world, then at least the human spirit strives to learn to live correctly in this world of suffering.
The main discovery of Buddhism: man is unbearably alone in this world. He can save himself. Buddha said: “Few people reach the opposite shore, the rest only fuss on this shore.”
Buddhism... Religion without God, salvation without salvation, life without evil, but also without good...
Current problems of the development of Buddhism in modern conditions are determined by the search for an all-Russian identity, the need for a deep study of the origins of one’s own Eurasian culture, and the preservation and use of all the best that has been created over the centuries-old history of Russian civilization. In this regard, the analysis of the Buddhist culture of Russia, its values in determining the Eurasian identity of the multinational Russian state, where a kind of “exodus to the East” and Buddhist-Orientalist traditions have deep historical roots, deserves special attention.
In the context of the search for new ways of civilizational development, the search for opportunities to implement the principle of complementarity of types of philosophizing in Russia and the East becomes important. The riches of Buddhist philosophy can and should be in demand by modern Russian culture and the intellectual environment, especially since its meeting with the Russian philosophical tradition at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. turned out to be very fruitful.
The importance of the foreign policy side of this problem is also undoubted. Due to the unique geographical position of Russia, it faces the task of establishing and maintaining friendly relations not only with
countries of the West, but also with the states of the Buddhist East. It is necessary to take into account that the peoples of Russia, who traditionally profess Buddhism, are a kind of connecting link between our country and the Buddhist world. Thus, the international position of Russia will depend to a certain extent on a correct understanding of the specifics of Buddhism.
Buddhism today plays an increasingly important role in the social and cultural life of Russia, gradually crossing the boundaries of those regions where it is traditionally widespread. The popularity of Buddhism is due to a number of reasons, one of which is the proximity of some of its principles to modern scientific thought. Sympathy is caused by a tolerant attitude towards other cultural and religious values, the absence of claims to exclusivity, and openness to interfaith dialogue. Humanism, tolerance and high ethical standards of Buddhist culture imply the possibility of implementing basic civil rights in practice.
The study of the spiritual, moral and socio-ecological potential of centuries-old Buddhist culture speaks of the revival of spirituality in Russia. The problems faced by modern civilization indicate the need to reassess values not so much in the economic, technological and information sphere, but in the spiritual, cultural, social - anthropological. Modern researchers are increasingly turning to Buddhism in search of answers to many pressing questions of our time (the problem of interaction between science and religion, environmental problems, the problem of tolerance, etc.). In the context of a crisis of scientific rationality, a “compromise” approach is becoming widespread, implying a synthesis of worldview paradigms of science and religion, East and West.
Appeal to the socio-cultural potential of Buddhism, analysis of the relationship between the ideas of tolerance, universal responsibility, ethics of non-violence in
Buddhism with the directions of development of the modern world can contribute to the search for new models for solving global problems of our time. Buddhist environmentally-oriented values are a kind of alternative to the “consumer society” and therefore they receive understanding and active support in the world.
Philosophical understanding of the values of Buddhist culture can be a conceptual component of the search for alternative models of development of modern civilization in the context of processes of “clash of identities.” It seems promising to turn to a discourse of religious and cultural identity that would give the individual, society integrity and value rootedness, and would help overcome the clash of identities of traditional, modern and postmodern societies, the “fracturedness”, “hybridity”, “borderliness” of modern identities.
The question of the perception of Buddhism in the sociocultural space of Russia is also of undoubted interest. This is due to the increased interest in the problem of dialogue of cultures in recent decades. The globalization of modern life and culture, the awareness of other values makes us look differently at the interaction of cultures and civilizations. The dialogue between the cultures of East and West is of particular importance at the present stage of historical development, when Asian countries are beginning to play a prominent role in the international arena.
Buddhism contributed to strengthening the Eurasian specificity of the sociocultural space of Russia, and the evolution of Buddhist culture in Russia was significantly influenced by the civilizational specificity of the Russian space.
In the process of its evolution on Russian soil, Buddhism acquired sociocultural characteristics compared to its original version, while its religious, philosophical and ideological principles remained almost unchanged.
An important feature of Buddhism that influenced its
historical destiny in the sociocultural space of Russia is pragmatism, which is most clearly manifested in crisis, transitional periods of social development.
Main:
1. Lebedev V. Yu. Religious Studies. - M.: “Yurait”, 2013. - 629 p.
2. Yablokov I.N. Fundamentals of Religious Studies. - M.: Gardariki, 2002. - 511 p.
Additional:
Anyone who comes to Thailand for the first time will certainly fall under the spell of the local religious culture, the center of which is, of course, temples or wats, as they are called here. Thai religious architecture has developed over the centuries, but despite all of it, all temples have a number of common features that we would like to tell you about today.
So, a traditional Thai temple consists of two main parts: Puttawat- an area with structures created for the worship of Buddha, and Sanghawat- The monks' homes are located here.
Puttawat, in turn, consists of a number of buildings:
Chedi or stupa- a bell-shaped structure with a sharp spire, inside which Buddhist relics are kept. In Buddhism, chedis seem to “stabilize” the earth, being the points of contact between heaven and earth. They are worshiped as sacred symbols representing the cosmic body of the Buddha.
Prang- Thai version of Khmer towers. Prangs are easy to identify - they look like huge ears of corn.
The main building in Puttawatha, where the main shrine (most often a Buddha statue) is located, is called ubosot or bot. All religious ceremonies take place here. Bots, as a rule, have a multi-tiered roof, the ridge of each level of which is topped with a horn-like decoration representing the head of the mythical garuda bird. It's called chofa.
In addition, in Puttawata there are always viharn- sermon hall (an exact copy of the bot), lard- open pavilion, ho try- a library, as well as a number of other structures and architectural forms.
And, of course, you will not find a single temple that does not have Naga- a multi-headed mystical snake that guarded Buddha during meditation. In the architecture of the temple, Naga is certainly present in the form of the railing of the stairs leading to the bot.
Anyone who comes to Thailand for the first time will certainly fall under the spell of the local religious culture, the center of which is, of course, temples or wats, as they are called here. Thai religious architecture has developed over the centuries, but despite all of it, all temples have a number of common features that we would like to tell you about today.
The representative of the tour operator in Thailand, Sayama Travel, Katerina Tarasenko, prepared a short educational program on the architectural graces of Thai temples.
So, a traditional Thai temple consists of two main parts: Puttawat - an area with buildings created for the worship of Buddha, and Sanghawat - the dwellings of the monks are located here.
Puttawat, in turn, consists of a number of buildings:
Chedi or stupa- a bell-shaped structure with a sharp spire, inside which Buddhist relics are kept. In Buddhism, chedis seem to “stabilize” the earth, being the points of contact between heaven and earth. They are worshiped as sacred symbols representing the cosmic body of the Buddha.
Prang- Thai version of Khmer towers. Prangs are easy to identify - they look like huge ears of corn.
The main structure in Puttawatha, which houses the main shrine (usually a Buddha statue), is called an ubosot or bot. All religious ceremonies take place here. Bots, as a rule, have a multi-tiered roof, the ridge of each level of which is topped with a horn-like decoration representing the head of the mythical garuda bird. It's called chofa.
In addition, in Puttavata there is always a viharn - a sermon hall (an exact copy of a bot), a sala - an open pavilion, a ho trai - a library, as well as a number of other structures and architectural forms.
And, of course, you will not find a single temple that does not have a Naga - a multi-headed mystical serpent who guarded Buddha during meditation. In the architecture of the temple, Naga is certainly present in the form of the railing of the stairs leading to the bot.
Buddhist temples can now be found in many countries as Buddhism has spread throughout the world. Buddhism has undergone many changes over the past 2,500 years, and today there are three main branches of this religion, each with their own monasteries for believers. The roots of Buddhism are located in India. Although the date of Buddha's birth is still a controversial point, Buddhism originated approximately in the 5th century. The literal translation of Buddha is “enlightened one.” In this article I will introduce you to some amazing and revered monasteries that you may want to visit.
1. Buddhist Monastery Wat Arun (WAT ARUN) in Thailand.
The famous Buddhist monastery Wat Arun is one of the most iconic images in Bangkok, Thailand. The temple is very recognizable.
It is decorated with ceramic tiles and colored porcelain. To visit the temple, you will need to take a taxi across the river.
2. Buddhist Monastery Luang (PHA THAT LUANG) in Laos.
Pha That Luang Temple is located in Laos. It is the most important national monument of Vientiane. Legends say that missionaries built this huge temple with a gilded dome to house a part of the Buddha.
A lot of excavations were carried out, but evidence of the legend was never found.
3. Buddhist Temple Jokhang (JOKHANG) in Tibet.
The Buddhist Jokhang Temple in the center of Lhasa is known as the Tibetan center of the spiritual world. The temple is the oldest remaining on earth and gives tourists an authentic taste of Tibetan culture.
The temple is stunningly beautiful. It remains the center of Buddhism in Tibet.
4. Buddhist Temple Todaiji (TODAIJI) in Japan.
One of the most significant and famous Buddhist temples is the Todaiji Temple in Nara. The monastery is the largest wooden building in the world and houses a huge Buddha statue.
The temple has always been and remains extremely popular. The temple is also home to many influential Buddhist schools.
5. Buddhist Temple BOUDHANATH in Nepal.
BOUDHANATH Temple is one of the most revered monuments in Kathmandu, Nepal. BOUDHANATH is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
BOUDHANATH attracts tourists from all over the world.
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Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the holiest places in the world. The main stupas of the temple are covered in gold and shimmer in the sun.
The temple is located in Yangon, Myanmar.
V Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Bagan Square has the largest concentration of Buddhist temples, stupas, and pagodas in the whole world.
The temples at Bagan Square are much simpler in design than many others in the world, but people still make pilgrimages to worship and enjoy the splendor of the place.
9. Buddhist Monastery in Borobudur (BOROBUDUR) in Indonesia
And it was not somewhere in a remote village, but in Kamakura - a tourist and popular place, and in a fairly famous temple called Komyoji - Temple of Bright Light. This is a temple of the Jodo sect - Pure Land, one of the main branches of Japanese Buddhism. The fact is that Komyoji is located in exactly the opposite direction from the traditional Kamakura attractions, so there are few foreigners there, and not many Japanese. And the temple is relatively large and well “packed”: it has the largest wooden gate in Eastern Japan, a rock garden, and a rich interior (just please don’t wait for photos of frescoes and stained glass windows). At one time (Edo era and earlier), the temple enjoyed the favor of emperors and shoguns, therefore, on the panels at the entrance there are coats of arms of chrysanthemums and paulownias (symbols of the imperial family).
There will also be several photographs of scenes of Kamakura life. The photographer is not an early bird, so the lighting is sunset, that is, yellow.
1. On the stone stele is the inscription: Komyoji, a high-level temple of the Pure Land Sect.
2. I wonder if the rector or a parishioner drives this? In the background is a large wooden gate.
3. “It’s a tedious task, visiting temples... And in general, I can’t sit while others are working, I’ll go to bed.”
4. Old tatami mats appear yellow at sunset. So this is where the legend about a country full of gold comes from!
5. Panels with gold embroidered dragons. I caught a bigger one, but in general there were a lot of them.
6. A sign with the name of the temple: Komyoji, written in cursive.
7. General view of the interior. There are electric carpets in the foreground, so you could pray (or take clandestine photographs) in comfort.
8. Main lampshade in front of the altar
9. Decorations in front of the altar. A spell is written in black hieroglyphs, by pronouncing which you can be saved and go to heaven.
10. Central ceiling of the prayer hall
11. The monks beat out the rhythm into these cast iron and wooden bell pans when they read the sutras.
12. Before the altar
13. Decorations near the altar
14. The actual altar with the Amida Buddha. Amida transports the souls of the dead to Jodo, a Buddhist paradise.
15. Rock garden, right view
16. Rock garden, left view
17. The central part of the rock garden
18. Lantern - as a rule, they are hung with donations from parishioners. Pleasure is not cheap. In well-known temples, you have to pay 6,000 (six thousand) dollars for the right to hang such a lantern.
19. A stone lantern is also one of the types of donations. It’s an even more expensive pleasure, which is why they used to be offered by famous feudal lords, but now by enterprises.
Updated 08/26/2019
Buddhism gradually spread throughout the planet over several millennia. Today, Buddhist temples can be found in different countries, and the roots of this religion are concentrated in India. In the article we will get acquainted with what a Buddhist temple is and what are the features of their architecture, we will learn about the most famous temples and monasteries.
Ajanta Temple and Monastery Cave ComplexWhat is the name of the Buddhist temple
The Buddha Temple may have different names: datsan, or, directly, the name of the temple itself, combined with the words ji, dera, tera, garan.
If the temple is named after the locality or in honor of the founders, then the name contains tera or dera. For example, Asuka-dera so called due to the fact that the temple is located on the Asuka Plain. A Tachibana-dera is a temple of the Tachibana family.
If the name of the building uses the honor of a teacher or the name of a revered person, then dzi is used. For example: Yakushiji – Bhaishajyaguru temple or the healer buddha Yakushi.
The additional name garan is used to designate ancient temples. From Sanskrit "sangharama" - "community dwelling" .
If the building for holding rituals does not have everything that is necessary for such a room, then such a building is called a chapel.
Maharashtra Buddhist Temple Architecture of Buddhist temples and monasteries
What does it mean to be a Buddhist? If explained from the point of view of this religious teaching, then to be a Buddhist is to seek from “ Three Treasures " "Three Treasures" - This Buddha, his doctrine And community, formed around this teaching. The structure is designed to embody all of the Three Treasures. They are all presented in one place, but at the same time divided into parts, each of which carries its own semantic and religious meaning.
A Buddhist temple is a sacred complex structure, representing religious value, a place of pilgrimage, worship and residence of Buddhist monks. It must be protected from external influences that disturb this holy place - extraneous sounds, sights, smells and other influences. The territory is closed on all sides, and at the entrance there are powerful gates.
In the "golden hall"(kondo) any Buddha images are placed ( Buddha Shakyamuni , Amitabha etc.) – embroidered, drawn, in the form of sculptures. In the same room there can be any images of various revered beings, bodhisattvas.
Pagoda- This building designed to store the remains of the body (earthly) of Buddha Shakyamuni. Almost every Buddhist temple has its own legend about how the remains got into it. Often the pagoda consists of three or five tiers, and the main pillar is placed in the center. Under it or at its very top the remains of Buddha are kept.
In addition to textual versions of Buddhist teachings stored in the form of scrolls, religious information and various sacred traditions are transmitted orally. In addition, readings and interpretations of the teachings are regularly held in the “reading hall” (ko:do).
Since the 8th century, kami have appeared - places for venerating “native gods”. They are placed both on the territory of the temple and outside it. The gods are revered as protectors of the temple.