Buddhist temple

A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for followers of Buddhism. These special buildings are used by people who practice Buddhism to quiet their minds and think about important ideas. Temples can have many different names like vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat, khurul, and pagoda, depending on where they are in the world.

These temples are meant to feel peaceful, both inside and out. They are built to help people feel calm and think about good things. The design of a Buddhist temple follows special rules that have been used for a very long time.

You can find beautiful examples of Buddhist temples in many places, especially in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Each area has its own style, but they all share the same idea of creating a pure and peaceful space.

Architecture

Main articles: Buddhist architecture and Architecture of India

Buddhist temples look different depending on where they are built. These temples include buildings and the space around them. They are made to represent five important elements: fire, air, water, earth, and space.

India

See also: Architecture of India, Ancient Indian architecture, Indian vernacular architecture, and Buddhist caves in India

In India, Buddhist temples were designed to feel like a special place that represents the universe. Often, there is one tall temple in the middle, with smaller temples and walls around it. This setup mimics oceans, smaller mountains, and a big wall surrounding the center.

One special type of temple space is called a Chaitya. In Buddhism, a Chaitya usually has a stupa inside and a rounded end opposite the entrance, with a high, curved roof. Some early Chaitya were carved directly into rock, like those in Karla Caves or Ajanta.

Indonesia

Main article: Candi of Indonesia

Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in Indonesia, arriving from India around the second century, not long after Hinduism. Many important Buddhist sites can be found across the country. The oldest Buddhist place in Indonesia is the Batujaya stupas complex in Karawang, West Java, with relics dating back to the 2nd century. Other important sites include those in Palembang and Riau in Sumatra, and in Central and East Java.

Powerful Buddhist empires such as the Sailendra dynasty, the Mataram, and Srivijaya once ruled large parts of Indonesia. Famous monuments like the 8th century Borobudur in Central Java and Sewu temple show the rich Buddhist history of the region. During the time of the Kediri, Singhasari, and Majapahit empires, Buddhism was an official religion, and people lived together peacefully.

Japan

Japanese Buddhist temples often have a special building called the Main Hall. One unique part of these temples is the chinjusha, a small area for Shinto spirits called kami. Buddhism and Shinto beliefs lived together in Japan. Starting in the 8th century, Buddhism became very important, and many temples were built. You can find many important Buddhist temples in the Kansai region, especially in the cities of Nara and Kyoto.

Thailand

Main article: Thai temple art and architecture

Buddhist temples in Thailand are called wat. The word "wat" comes from an old word meaning "enclosure." Most wats have two main parts. The Phutthawat is the area for honoring Buddha. The Sangkhawat is the area for the Sangha, the community of Buddhist monastic people who live there.

Sri Lanka

See also: Buddhism in Sri Lanka and List of Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka

Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka are called 'Pansala' or 'Viharaya' in Sinhalese. These temples often have special structures like Stupa, Bo Tree, and temple buildings. Sri Lanka is home to the oldest human-planted Bodhi Tree in the world, called Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The country also has some of the largest Stupa in the world, such as Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya, and Abhayagiri vihāra.

Russia

See also: Buddhism in Russia

The first Buryat and Kalmyk wooden and stone temples, called khuruls, dugans, and datsans, were built with help from Russian builders. These temples were shaped like a cross and had many roofs. A special area called the vestibule helped keep out the cold weather.

Starting in the 1800s, new temples were built with square shapes and roofs that curved up at the corners, similar to Chinese designs.