#throwback on Indian and Chinese Architecture

INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

Axis mundi

Axis Mundi• Cosmic axis• World axis• World pillar• Center of the world• “World tree”

Axis Mundi• in certain beliefs and philosophies, is the world center, or the

connection between Heaven and Earth.

Axis mundi on Stupas• Has cosmic implications.

Great Stupa at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh), India

Vedika – railing.

Torana – gateways.

Anda – hemispherical dome.

Chattras – parasol.

Harmika – railing on top of stupa.

Chattras and Harmika

Medhi – circular platform. About 40m (130 ft) in diameter.

Sopanas – two stairways.

Pradakshina – Upper and a lowerPassageway for the rite of Circumambulation.

Architectural Language• Representational character.• Formal and symbolic language in brick or stone.• Imagery derived from buildings made of wood and thatch.

Non-secular buildings• Harmyas – busy townscape of multi-storeyed palaces.

CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

• Chinese ancestor worship• Chinese patriarchal religion

Confucian philosophy calls for paying respect to one's ancestors, an aspect of filial piety; Zhuo Xinping (2011) views traditional patriarchal religion as the

religious organisation complementing the ideology of Confucianism.

JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE

Nanto Shichi DaijiAlso known at the SEVEN GREAT TEMPLES OF NANTO (synonym of NARA).

is a historical common name generally referring to the powerful and influential seven Buddhist temples located in Nara.

Nanto Shichi DaijiAlthough there have been some changes as to which temples are included over the years, since there have been fluctuations in power. The following is a list as it stood at the early stage, all of which were originally built by imperial order;

1.) Daian-ji (639 AD)Daian-ji (大安寺 ?) was founded during the Asuka period 

1.) Daian-ji (639 AD)

2. Gangō-ji (718 AD)• Gangō-ji Gokurakubō hondō, • a National Treasure

2. Gangō-ji (718 AD)

3.) Hōryū-ji (607 AD)

3.) Hōryū-ji (607 AD)• Yumedono(Hall of Dreams)

3.) Hōryū-ji (607 AD)• Pagoda

4.) Kōfuku-ji (669 AD)• UNESCO World Heritage

4.) Kōfuku-ji (669 AD)

Nan'endō No.9

5.) Saidai-ji (765 AD)• Hondo(Main Hall)

5.) Saidai-ji (765 AD)• Naked Festival

6.) Tōdai-ji (754 AD)• Houses the largestBronze statue ofBuddha(Vairocana)

6.) Tōdai-ji (754 AD)• Vairocana

6.) Tōdai-ji (754 AD)• Main gate

Zen Style• The Zen Style (Karayo) favoured by the Zen sects was the other

important new style introduced at the very beginning of the 13th Century.

• Todaiji Belfry

7.) Yakushi-ji (680 AD)• is one of the most

famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan

• Kondo (The Great Hall)

7.) Yakushi-ji• East pagoda． Its beauty is often

called "Frozen music".

7.) Yakushi-ji

Shinbutsu-shūgō• syncretism of kami and buddhas

• is the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto kami worship which was Japan's religion until the Meiji period.

• When Buddhism was introduced through China in the late Asuka period (6th century), rather than discarding the old belief system, the Japanese tried to reconcile it, assuming both were true.

Shinbutsu-shūgō• As a consequence, Buddhist temples (寺 , tera) were attached to local

Shinto shrines (神社 , jinja) and vice versa and devoted to both kami and Buddhas.

• The local religion and foreign Buddhism never quite fused, but remained however inextricably linked all the way to the present day, always interacting.

Shinbutsu-shūgō• As a consequence, Buddhist temples (寺 , tera) were attached to local

Shinto shrines (神社 , jinja) and vice versa and devoted to both kami and Buddhas.

• The local religion and foreign Buddhism never quite fused, but remained however inextricably linked all the way to the present day, always interacting.

Shinbutsu-shūgō• The depth of the resulting influence of Buddhism on local religious

beliefs can be seen for example in the fact that much of Shinto's conceptual vocabulary and even the types of Shinto shrines today, with a large worship hall and religious images, are themselves of Buddhist origin.

Shinbutsu-shūgō