Buddhas of the Three Times

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on July 20, 2015.)

Buddhas of the Three Times at Liurong Temple, Guangzhou

The main hall of some temples is called the "Precious Hall of the Great Hero," which refers to Shakyamuni, the historic Buddha. He is usually seated with figures on either side of him--bodhisattvas, or other Buddhas.

The General Weituo

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on Monday, July 27, 2015.)

Weituo stands behind Mi-le Fo at Huayan Temple, Zhiti Shan

In the first hall of most temples (the "Heavenly Kings' Hall"), we are greeted by the fat, jolly figure of Mi'le Fo, the so-called "Laughing Buddha." Standing behind him there is usually an often fierce-looking warrior in armor. He is most often armed with a three-bladed sword, and he faces toward the Buddha in the main hall, away from the temple's entrance.

The Laughing Buddha

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 4, 2016.)

The Laughing Buddha at Zhiti Shan Huayan Temple, Ningde, Fuzhou

The next building we encounter in our temple walkthrough is called the "Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings." But these are not the first figures we encounter.

The Altar in the Main Hall

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 2, 2016.)

Left to right: Amitofo with a lotus; Shakyamuni flanked by Ananda and Kashyapa;
and the Medicine Buddha with a pagoda, at tiny Youmin Temple, Nanchang, Jiangxi

A temple's main hall may have various names. In most temples, the figure seated at the center of the altar will be the historic Buddha, Shakyamuni, so the hall is called the "Precious Hall of the Great Hero" (Daxiong Baodian). This is sometimes translated "Mahavira Hall" ("Mahavira" is Sanskrit for "Great Man" or "Hero"), but this can be confused with the proper name of one of the great leaders of the Jains, who lived in India around the same time as the Buddha.