Buddhist shrines

Buddhism is one of the world religions and at the same time is a spiritual philosophy with diverse traditions, beliefs, and practices. There exists a rich tradition of architecture expressed in Buddhist temples and monasteries. There are venerated numerous Buddhist sacred sites.

Religion evolved on the base of the more ancient religions of the Indian subcontinent and its development is attributed to a single personality – Siddhartha Gautama – Buddha (c. 563 – 483 BC). This religion has spread to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and via the Silk Road – to Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and parts of Siberia. Its enormous territorial spread and diverse local, strong cultures have created an extreme diversity of Buddhist shrines.

Branches and diversity

Buddhism can be divided into the more ancient and conservative teaching – Theravada and the somewhat newer, more lay oriented Mahayana. Mahayana is further divided into several more influential traditions, although the bearers of the traditions themselves often would disagree with such classifications. Some of these traditions are: Zen Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Pure Land Buddhism.

Theravada is more confined to Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. This rather conservative and somewhat more isolated teaching has been very influential in the development of social and political processes in Thailand, Burma, and other countries. Theravada monasteries serve as keepers of the otherwise extinct Pali language, which is used in liturgy and sacred scripts.

Mahayana has a wider territorial spread and thus a higher diversity of traditions. Since around the 5th century, this has been a leading branch of Buddhism in India and was spread over Himalayas to Tibet and further abroad via the Silk Road.

In Tibet, Buddhism has intertwined with local traditions and evolved into several influential schools. Here, monasticism plays an even higher role than elsewhere. In Tibet, approximately half of the male population were monks up to the Chinese invasion in 1950. Tibetan monasteries are legendary in Europe since the late 19th century for their aura of mysticism or, rather, hidden knowledge in subjects less known to the Western world (the same can be applied to Buddhist monasteries in any other region).

Tibetan Buddhism in earlier times also spread to Mongolia, Tuva, Buryatia and other regions.

Zen Buddhism has played an important role in the history of China as well as Japan and Korea. This teaching originated in the Shaolin Monastery, where a great role was played by direct communication between the teacher and his disciples. This teaching method has also been popular in West.

In Japan, there several more branches of Mahayana Buddhism have evolved – such as Shingon, Tendai, and others.

Buddhist monasteries

Active religious practice in Buddhism requires a specific lifestyle and a thorough education. This role, as well as the role of collection of knowledge, is performed by Buddhist monasteries.

The monastic tradition was started by Gautama Buddha himself sometime around 500 BC, based on the lifestyle of earlier sects, a set of rules was developed for the lifestyle of monks – vinaya. Buddhist monks, in many cases, have not been very isolationist and have played key roles in the development of literate societies in Asia and in the development of culture and traditions in Asian countries. Up to this day, these monasteries have served as keepers of (often little known to the Western world) knowledge, repositories of art, and institutions of learning.

Buddhist monasteries are built in accordance with the traditions of their respective countries, often themselves developing these traditions. Often, monasteries have fortification walls or are constructed in hard-to-access locations. These remote monasteries with their art and other valuable collections have been prey for armed gangs or enemy armies. In response to this threat, the otherwise peaceful monks in some regions have been forced to develop specific martial arts. An ascetic lifestyle, a trained intellect, and the devotion of these monks have resulted in the unique tradition of such martial arts as wushu from Shaolin Monastery (China).

Stupas and pagodas

Stupas are important Buddhist shrines – structures that contain sacred relics and serve as places of worship. Initially, these were earthen mounds but over time stupas have evolved into diverse monuments with specific architecture of each respective region.

Oldest, original stupas are located in India. Legendary 10 initial earthen stupas still have to be found. The oldest dated existing stupa is Dhamek Stupa in Uttar Pradesh, India, built circa 500 AD on the site of an earlier structure. In somewhat later Indian and also Sri Lankan stupas dominant features are enormous stone half domes with obelisk-like structures on top. Notable structures of this type are Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh, India), Ruwanwelisaya Chedi, and Jetavanaramaya (both in North Central Province, Sri Lanka).

In Burma and Thailand stupas have evolved into some of the most amazing architectural monuments of the world. Here these structures often resemble enormous bells with a high spire on top. Some of these giant structures are covered with gold, with a hti (in Burma) – top ornament which is studded with the most valuable jewels. Most prominent of these buildings are Shwedagon (Yangon, Burma) Shwemawdaw Paya (Bago, Burma), and the 127 meters high Phra Pathom Chedi (Nakhon Pathom, Thailand).

Pagodas in principle are the same stupas but the term "pagoda" is used in Eastern Asia – China, Japan. Architecturally pagodas differ from stupas – these are multitiered, slender towers of an odd number of levels often built of wood. Some notable pagodas are 57 meters high wooden Iron Pagoda from 1049 AD (Henan, China), sophisticated, 67 meters high wooden Pagoda of Fogong Temple from 1056 AD (Shanxi, China). One of the oldest wooden buildings in world is Hōryū-ji, built in 607 AD (Nara, Japan).

Other articles

Wondermondo has defined several other categories of religious structures:

• Religious architecture – list of more than 60 most interesting and impressive religious structures and sites around the world.
• Churches
• Christian monasteries
• Hindu temples
• Jain shrines
• Judaism monuments, sinagogues
• Islamic shrines
• Other contemporary shrines
• Ancient pyramids
• Ancient and prehistoric shrines