User:Zeus1234/Chinese Temples

Layout
Chinese temples nearly always follow a certain layout. Usually, temples were laid out on a south-north axis, with the entrance at the south. Main buildings are built on the central axis and between each two halls is a courtyard. Minor building could be built on the east or western sides of the axis. Temples could have many buildings and courtyards. While a small temple might have a single courtyard, large ones (such as the Confucian Temple in Qufu) could have upwards of ten. In addition, courtyard did not have to be located on the axis, and could also be located to the east or west of the axis.

This layout allowed allowed buildings to face the sun, and shielded them from the cold north wind. In addition, it followed certain principles of Feng Shui. For example, some temples had large screen walls built in front of the entrance (such as the Ancestral Temple in Beijing). This wall served two purposes. It could protect the privacy of the temple by hiding the entrance from view, and also protect the temple from evil spirits, who were believed to only travel in straight lines.

However, some temples do not fully adhere to these principles for a variety of reasons. Some temples are not laid out from the south to the north because of the location of mountains. For example, the Foguang Temple is in a west-east position because there are mountains to the east.

Architecture
Chinese temples use a system of wooden beams and columns to support the roof. In a typical building, columns are placed on bases, and beams are placed on top of columns. The roof is formed by purlins, which run the length of the structure. Rafters are placed on top of purlins. Many structures had brackets called dougong placed on the columns to give additional support to overhanging eaves and beams. Each dougong was composed of at least one wooden block (dou) with a bow-shaped arm (gong) resting on top. More than one gong could be placed on top in order to strengthen the amount of weight that could be supported. An ancient architectural manual called the Yingzao Fashi describes seven types of dougong, with the most complex only being used for the most eminent structures. However, after the Yuan Dynasty, Dougong became more decorative in function and they were no longer used structurally.

Religions
For the most part the architecture of Daoist, Buddhist and Confucian temples are fundamentally the same. Neverthelss, the deities and function of the buildings were very different.

Buddhist
The pagoda was initially built in the center of a temple, following the Indian example. This layout was used in complexes such as the one the housed the Fogong Temple Pagoda. However, as Chinese buddhism became less focused on scriptures and turned towards making scarifices, the pagoda moved to the sides of temples, and even could even be built outside a temple.

Daoist
The most common Daoist place of worship was called a guan (观) in Chinese, a word that is often translated as ‘abbey’. Most of these abbeys are controlled by the Quanzhen School, although the Celestial Masters also control some. Despite the temples belonging to a certain Daoist school, the clergy working in them are independent. A second type of Daoist temple is dedicated to local cults. These temples are usually smaller than the abbeys, and often do not have any resident clergy. Instead, clergy visit during festivals or are employed on a contractual basis. Some temples are also built in caves.