Guiyuan Temple
Chinese Buddhist temples are never single buildings.They always consist of a group buildings following a fundamental patter, which can, however, be modified.The main buildings and their symmetrically corresponding secondary buildings form individual groups and courtyards.The entire temple complex is spacious.The building inside the complex are usually single-storied and the main halls are sometimes decorated with a double roof.The towers, pavilions and halls can be multi-storied structures.
The Chinese temple complex has been subject to great structural changes throughout the centuries.But temple architects follow the basic principles of secular structures from the Tang Dynasty onwards.The complexes stand on a central axis, usually a north-south axis: east-west only as an exception.(Guiyuan Temple is just the very exception.) The main buildings are strung along this central axis, their broadest sides facing south or east.
The most important and most frequently presented building inside a Buddhist temple complex are the main entrance gate, the bell and drum towers, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Hall of the Buddha and a pagoda.
Buddhism is said to be founded in India in the 6th century BC by Siddatha Gautama (BC565 –BC486), the son of a nobleman and member of the Kshatriya caste near the present borders of India and Nepal.Buddhism advocates that all the people are created equal and turns against the caste system of Brahmanism, so it was popular with the common people.
It was said that Buddhism was spread to China in 2 BC.At the beginning, it was only regarded as a kind of witch.About 200 AD, Chinese version of Buddhist s criptures began to appear, and thus, Buddhist doctrines began to emerge with traditional Chinese religious thought.From 2nd century to late 6th century, translation and research of Buddhist sects with Chinese characteristics were becoming more and more popular and many temples were built, which reached its peak in Sui Dynasty (581AD-617AD) and Tang Dynasty (618-907).Some Buddhist sects with Chinese characteristics came into being.Buddhism exerts a great influence on Chinese philosophy, literature, art and folk customs.
What is presented before our eyes is a copper statue of a famous bodhisattva in Hynayana Buddhism.Bodhisattva is a tittle which is only next to Buddha.This statue is the image of Avalokitesvara, which has been popular with Chinese people or more than 1,000 years.She is called the Godde of Mercy cordially by Chinese and is regarded as the symbol of kindne, mercy and benevolence.When we visit the Avalokitesvara pavilion after a while, I will give a detailed introduction about her.This copper statue was sent to Guiyuan Temple by Taiwan Buddhists in September 1990.It shows that all Chinese, whether in the mainland or in Taiwan, are eager for the reunion of the country, even including religion believers.
The building we see now is the Buddha Hall where one certain Buddha and his two aistant bodhisattvases are worshiped.This Buddha is Amitabha Buddha.Amitabha means incomparable brightne.According to Buddhism, time and space is limitle and thus there are many many Buddhas in different spaces and times.But in a certain space or in a certain period of time, there is only one certain Buddha who is in charge of instructing all living creatures.Amitabha Buddha is the Buddha who presides over the Land of Ultimate Bli in the west, which will come in the future.Buddhist s criptures describe the Land of Ultimate Bli as a wonderland, in which no pain exists and the people enjoy their lives.In one word, it’s very attractive.Some people will think it must be very difficult to enter such a world.How can I go to such a paradise? Maybe I have to work hard and bear a lot of sufferings.In fact, it’s very easy to enter the world.He only need often murmur ‘May Buddha preserve us’ sincerely.It’s enough.
You see, the statue in the middle is the very Buddha.On his left is the Godde of Mercy.On his right is the other bodhisattva who follows the Buddha.It is said that he can save all the living creatures from three kinds of terrible disasters.
Ahrats are the immortals in Buddhism.But when you have a look around the sculptures, you may find from the expreions on their faces that they are so familiar to you.That’s only because they were molded on the basis of the people in the reality, so they are human beings in our daily life rather than immortals.
Ahrats are the symbols of harmony, happine, and good luck, so the Wuhan natives have got used to counting ahrats since ancient time to pray for peace.There are a few ways of counting ahrats.We can count from the first ahrat from left to right or from right to left, when we just enter the hall.We can also choose any ahrat as our starting point, and count in the same way, left to right or right to left.We should base counting on our own ages whatever we take.For example, I’m 25, so I should stop in front of the 25th ahrat from the starting ahrat.The sculpture in front of which I stop is my lucky ahrat.My lucky ahrat will accompany me to spend a peaceful and lucky year.Wouldn’t you like to have a try now? If you need, I can explain connotation of some ahrats.
That’s all for the explanation to Guiyuan Temple.Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.You will have another 30 minutes to have a look around the temple.If you have any problems, do let me know.I would like to repeat our bus number, A3074.please don’t forget.See you later.
