| CHINESE
TEMPLES AND DEITIES
When visiting
a traditional Chinese Buddhist, Daoist or Confucian
temple, it helps to be able to recognize some of the
statues, frescoes and symbols around you. Otherwise,
the visit can be a confusing array of unfamiliar images.
By far
the largest number of temples in China are Buddhist.
As with all temples, halls are arranged on a north-south
axis, with the main door facing south. A "spirit
wall" may exist at the front entrance, barring
bad spirits from entering. The first hall is often
where you encounter the jolly and rotund Maitreya
Buddha (Milefo), more specifically a celestial bodhisattva
(one who is destined to become a Buddha). Milefo is
also called the Monk with the Cloth Bag as he is often
represented with a bag. Standing behind Milefo and
facing north is Weituo, the protector of the Buddhist
faith, frequently dressed as a general with a sword
lying across his arms. Milefo and Weituo are typically
flanked by the multi-colored effigies of the Four
Heavenly Kinfs (Sida Tianwang).
Daoist
temples share a similar physical layout to Buddhist
temples. The main hall also houses three effigies,
called the Three Clear Ones (Sanqing), typically representing
Laozi, the founder of Daoism; the Jade Emperor (Yuhuan
Dadi); and the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi). These three
are such important individuals in the Daost temples,
or may be the ruling deity of the temple (eg the Tianhou
Temple in Tianjin). Halls are often also dedicated
to the Eight Immortals and Guandi, the Daoist God
of War, recognizable for his black beard. Typical
motifs at Dais temples include the ying-yan diagram
and the eight trigrams (bagua). The Chinese, especially
in the south, tend to fuse Daoism and Buddhism, so
Buddhist and Daoist deities can often share the same
temple.
Confucian
temples are fewer in number, more reserved and neither
as colorful nor vibrant as Daoist and Buddhist shrines.
The main courtyard generally contains inscribed steles
commemorating scholars, sometimes supported on the
backs of bixi, huge mystical turtles. Statues or images
of qilin, a scaled hybrid animal, are also often seen.
Cypress trees are also associated with Confucian temples.
Confucius (Kong Fuzi) himself is commemorated either
with a statue at the entrance or by an effigy in the
main hall, flanked by his disciples.
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