The Symbolism of Chinese Chan Temple Iconography and ArchitectureUnderstanding through MetaphorUnderstanding through Place

I have the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, the sublime mind of nirvana, whose true sign is signlessness, the sublime dharma gate, which without words or phrases, is transmitted outside of the [standard] teachings, and which I bestow upon Mahakasyapa.

The legendary origin of Zen Buddhism is ascribed to a talk given by Shakyamuni Buddha at Vultures Peak in Ancient India. The Buddha reportedly said

The key phrase used by the Buddha is signlessness. This phrase is translated as follows into Chinese:

This term is often incorrectly translated as formless. However, this leads to a serious misunderstanding of the Zen tradition. Formlessness denotes a lack of physicality and thus has metaphysical overtones. Signlessness is presented by the Buddha with a flower, something certainly not formless.

The idea of signlessness is an important foundational concept of Zen. It can be seen most graphically in Zen art. In the following slides I first show a traditional, non-Zen depiction of Buddha displaying a mudra. Then I show paintings by ancient Zen artists, where the Buddha is shown descending the mountain to teach after his enlightenment. In the Zen art the Buddhas robe covers his hands. This is a traditional way of expressing the fact that in Zen the Buddha is not shown displaying a mudra (sign with the hands).

Buddha with a traditional mudra, a sign. (Not Zen)

By Old Man KeBy Gukei (Jap.)By Liang KaiSignless representations of the Buddha by Zen artists. Note the covered hands.

Temples still exist at the places where early Zen ancestors lived and taught. This is Empty Appearance Temple where Bodhidharma may have taught and was buried.

2002

2nd Zen Ancestor Huikes Burial Temple

One of the three steles reportedly composed by Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, commemorating Bodhidharma. Location-2nd Chan Ancestors burial temple.

Third Ancestors Temple . The Third Ancestor is an obscure figure whose identity and role in Zen is hotly debated by some scholars.

. Fourth Ancestors Temple Still existing near ancient Huangmei, this temple played a pivotal role in the development and success of Bodhidharmas Zen.

/Fifth Ancestors Temple at Huangmei. At this temple, Zen split into factions that became known as the Northern and Southern schools of Zen.

, Nanhua Temple, Dharma seat of the Sixth Ancestor. His True Body Hall.

Non-Zen Buddhist iconography is especially varied and ornate. Here are the Yungang Grottos, created during the Northern Wei Dynasty around 480 CE,They display traditional sutra stories and the life of the Buddha.

..

These traditional depictions show stories from sutras, from the Jataka tales, and other old stories that came with Buddhism from South Asia.

Tang Dynasty/Monks HallSeven Halls of the MonasteryToiletBathDining/KitchenMountain GatesThree GatesIn contrast, Zen temples in China were not usually adorned with stories from sutras or Jataka tales.

Tang Dynasty/Monks HallSeven Halls of the MonasteryToiletBathDining/KitchenMountain GatesThree GatesEntering from the front, tirst, a visitor would encounter the Three Gates.

The word three sounds like the word for mountain in Chinese. Therefore, the three gates were also synonymous with the term Mountain Gate. The three gates of traditional temples were named for key concepts of Chinese Zen. They were as follows

Mountain (Three) Gates Gate of Emptiness(The Nature of Things)Gate of Signlessness(the Nature of Mind)Gate of Non-Action(Attaining the Way)/

The Gate of Emptiness is the first gate to pass. It signifies the understanding that things have no inherent nature and arise due to cause and effect.

The Gate of Signlessness is the second gate. It signifies the signless nature of mind as taught by Buddha at Vulture Peak.

The Gate of Non-Action is the third gate. It signifies the highest path of the home-leaver, Attaining the Way by someone who has left the polluted world./213

Guardian Deities in the Gates

The Mountain Gate at Spiritual Springs Monastery, Hunan Province

After the gates, visitors may cross the Liberate Life Pond where monks release fish and turtles saved from the market.

Visitors then enter the first Heavenly Kings hall.

Heavenly Kings HallBuddha Hall Dharma Hall Parikalpita Paratantra Parinispanna . There is an correspondence between the three main Zen temple halls and the three aspects of the nature of mind as set forth in the Samdhinirmocana Sutra (Sutra on Unraveling the Mystery of Thought).

Three Natures, (Sanskrit Trisvabhava) is expounded in part six of the Samdhinirmocana-sutra and in other Yogacara sutras/shastras

In the Heavenly Kings hall there are several deities who represent the first of the three natures of thought. The Buddha Light encyclopedia defines the Heavenly Kings Hall as follows

Heavenly Kings Hall The hall is lined by four heavenly kings which represent fundamental Buddhist practice, namely the elimination of calamity through prayer and sacrifice, as well as the practice of praying for good fortune . Benevolent deities who guard the Dharma, protect the country, and have solemnly vowed to fight against all manner of disasters.

The foregoing description corresponds to the Parikalpita nature of thought. It is the ordinary belief in self and other that pervades normal consciousness. The various gods in the hall may be seen to represent other to the believers that come to pray to them. This relationship can be described as Im here and there is a god there that can grant me my wishes. Self and other is clearly demonstrated in the religious activities of this hall. Thus it corresponds to the Parikalpita nature of thought.Heavenly Kings HallParikalpita

Gods of the Heavenly Kings Hall

Maitreya (Budai)

In the Heavenly Kings Hall we often find the smiling, corpulent figure Maitreiya, a statue modeled on the 10th century monk Budai (Cloth Bag), who was considered Maitreiyas incarnation. Followers of this deity believe theyll be reborn in Tushita Heaven, and he is thus honored in a way similar to Amithaba Buddha.

Guardian of the South

Responsible for the wind.His name means Increaser He increases peoples goodness.

Guardian of the West

Social HarmonyHis name means broad eyes which are used to look widely and protect the people.

He holds a dragon like creature. Protects the people of the Western Continent.*Heavenly Kings Hall/

Guardian of the East

Holds pipa- stringed instrument.

Pacifies evil and protects the country.

Heavenly Kings Hall/

Heavenly Kings Hall/God of the NorthHis name means hears much. Has great virture and protects peoples wealth.Honored by Emperor Xuan Zong for help in battle. He holds umbrella and is responsible for rainfall.

Wei Tuo/Each of the heavenly kings has eight generals, but Wei Tuo is said to be the overall commander of all the thirty two generals.

His weapon is the Diamond Vaijra of Truth.

Faces the Buddha in the Buddha Hall, receiving the command from Buddha to defend the Dharma..

Wei TuoMay have evolved from a real general, he is said to be under the command of the Guardian of the South. General Wei patrols the West, East and Southern Continents. (The North did not have home-leavers)

Next, the Buddha Hall Corresponds to Paratantra Nature of Mind

Buddha Hall Ethereal Springs Monastery

The Paratantra nature of mind refers to the fundamental insight of Buddha upon his enlightenment, namely the dependent co-origination of self and other. Fundamentally, other arises with the belief in and arising of self, and visa-versa. The word tantra means intertwining, and thus Paratantra means ultimate intertwining between self and other. This fundamental truth was taught by the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, and he takes the most honored position at the center in the Buddha Hall.

At the center of the hall is Shakyamuni Buddha. As we face him, on the left, is usually Amithaba Budda, the Buddha of the Western Paradise. On the right is the Medicine Buddha, who in ancient times was believed to be the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise.

Along the sides of the hall we find the 16 (or 18) great arhats, disciples of Buddha

At the rear of the hall we find the two great Bodhisattvas, Samantabhadra (on the elephant) and Manjushri (on the lion).

Two Paths of BodhidharmaBodhidharma said, The noble enter the Way by many paths, but essentially there are but two of which I speak. One is by principle and one is by practice. .

Principle/Wisdom Practice

Two paths to enter the WayWe find that the two paths to enter the Way (rear Dharma Hall) pass by Bodhisattva of practice (Samantabhadra) and of principle (Manjushri).

Two paths to enter the WayThese paths constitute what is called, Going beyond Buddha in both a literal and metaphorical sense.

Manjushri BodhisattvaSits upon a lion.Symbolizes abrupt awakening and Transcendent Wisdom

Another figure of Manjushri Bodhisattva

SamantabhadraBodhisattvarepresentsShining PracticeSamadhi..

Directly behind the Buddha is the bodhisattva Kwan Yin (Guan Yin). She sits back to back with Shakyamuni. Together, the form a sort of Yin/Yang symbolism at the center of the temple. This is the reason why Avalokitevara appears in China as a woman, a country whose most fundamental beliefs rest in the idea of the Taiji (Yin and Yang)

Kwan Yin is often shown surrounded by the other manifestations of Avalokitevara, which include animals, and buddhas, as well as other male and female manifestations.

Often, children are shown seeking help from the bodhisattva. Kwan Yin looks out the door, keeping watch over the field of Dharma that lies behind the Buddha Hall.

The Dharma Hall representing the third, or Paranispanna (Perfected and Complete) nature of mind.

Heavenly Kings HallBuddha Hall Dharma Hall Parikalpita Paratantra Parinispanna . Again, there is an correspondence between the three main temple halls and the three aspects of the nature of mind set forth in the Samdhinirmocana Sutra (Sutra on Unraveling the Mystery of Thought).

Three Natures, (Sanskrit Trisvabhava) is expounded in part six of the Samdhinirmocana-sutra and in other Yogacara sutras/shastras

In the perfected and complete nature of mind (parinispanna)

The hall symbolizes the perfected and complete nature of mind is, as taught by Buddha, the sublime mind of Nirvana, whose true sign is signlessnessHere the Zen Master only taught the pure Dharma.

Therefore, there are no special signs in the Dharma Hall. Traditionally there were no statues or other religious symbols (except one!)

The Signless Field of BenefactionThe Buddhas RobeThe single sign in this hall, the robe of the home leaver worn by the teacher, was itself signless. In accordance with Buddhas instructions it simply stood for the fields where people work in the ordinary, signless world.

The idea that the layout of the temple halls corresponds to the nature of the mind as described in scripture is supported by specific koans recorded in the Lamp Records. The following thee koans offer interpretations of these teachings:

Deshan Yuanmi entered the hall to address the monks and said, Sometimes people understand the affairs which are in front of the monks quarters. (the Buddha Hall) But what about the affairs behind the Buddha hall?

Monkss HallMetaphors of Place/

Metaphors of Place/Zen Master Baofu Congzhan addressed the monks, saying, When you see those who have gone past the Buddha Hall, they are just Tom, Dick, or Harry [ordinary people - signless] . But as for those who go into the Buddha Hall, why cant they cant be seen?

Monkss Hall

A monk asked Zen Master Ji Che: What is the sphere of Linxi (Ji Che). The master said, There are mountains and rivers. The monk then asked, Who is the one within this sphere? Ji Che said, In front of the monastery. Behind the Buddha Hall.

:Metaphors of Place/

By Old Man KeBy Gukei (Jap.)By Liang Kai

The End

The Symbolism of chinese Chan temple iconography and architecture. Surprisingly, in my years of exploring Chinese Zen temples, Ive discovered that the most important lessons Zen has to offer is reflected in the architecture of its ancient temples. The layout of the halls, gates, and statuary offers a deep look into the early Zen view of enlightenment, perhaps even its cosmology.******************************************************