A list of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and other features found in Chinese Buddhist temples.
- 500 Arhats' Hall (五百罗汉殿): A hall found in certain temples containing 500 figures of arhats (罗汉), enlightened disciples of the Buddha. It's said that if you look hard, you'll find one that resembles someone you know.
- Arhats (罗汉): Enlightened people who were disciples of the historic Buddha Gautama (瞿昙 or 乔答摩), also called Shakyamuni (释迦牟尼). They are often seen in temples in groups of 16, 18, or 500. More at Wikipedia.
- Ascetic Shakyamuni (禁欲的释迦牟尼): Before his enlightenment, the Buddha practiced austerities in the forest. He finally discovered that the "Middle Way," between luxury and asceticism, was the best. He is sometimes depicted seated under a tree in an emaciated condition, before he regained his strength.
- Ashoka (阿育王): King who united India. After becoming a Buddhist, sent missionaries out to the known world, along with a gift of the Buddha's remains (relics). Lived roughly 304–232 BC. More at Wikipedia.
- Avalokiteshvara SEE Guanyin
- Avatamsaka (Huayan) Sect (华严宗): One of the "Eight Schools" of Chinese Buddhism, It is based on the Avatamsaka Sutra which teaches the complex idea of the interpenetration of all things, or the idea that any one existing phenomenon contains all other existing phenomena. More at Wikipedia.
- Beamless Hall (无梁殿): A brick hall with a vaulted ceiling, built without wooden timbers. These are featured at several temples.
- Big Buddha (大佛): There are various colossal figures of the Buddha in China; the largest of all is at Leshan (乐山). More at Wikipedia.
- Bodhisattva (菩萨): A person who is highly accomplished in Buddhist practice. He (usually) is eligible for Buddhahood, but has pledged to remain this side of Nirvana to help all sentient beings. There are many popular Bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhist tradition. More at Wikipedia.
- Buddha (佛): A person who has achieved the highest form of enlightenment, and either taught or in some other way used that achievement to help others. The historical Buddha Shakyamuni (释迦牟尼) is the best known in the west; Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀佛) is probably the most popular in Eastern Asia. More at Wikipedia.
- Daoji (道济) SEE Ji Gong
- Dharma Wheel (法轮): An eight-spoked wheel representing the Buddha's teaching, especially the "Noble Eight-Fold Path." More at Wikipedia.
- Dhrtarashtra (持国天王=Chi Guo Tianwang): One of the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) found in the first hall of most temples. Dhrtarashtra is sometimes shown with a green face, holding a pipa, a kind of lute. He is sometimes considered the "king" or protector of the east, and is thought to bring ease and comfort. More at Wikipedia.
- Dragon Girl (龙女): Granddaughter of a dragon king (龙王), she is usually seen standing next to Guanyin (观音) opposite Sudhana (善財). More at Wikipedia.
- Fahai (法海): An historical monk who restored Jinshan Jiangtian Temple. Also features in the legend of the "White Snake," about which more at Wikipedia.
- Guanyin (观音): The most popular of Bodhisattvas in East Asia, often depicted as a woman. She/He is the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and as such is called on by many in need. More at Wikipedia.
- Guest Hall (客堂): A building or room in almost every temple where guests are received, and where they can sometimes register to stay in the precincts.
- Halls (殿): One of the designations for those temple buildings containing statues, and in which some form of devotions takes place. Not used for offices, dormitories, etc.
- Hanshan (寒山): Famed poet and monk of the 9th century. His poems are well-known today; legend says he was once abbot of Suzhou's Hanshan Temple. He is also well know for his warm friendship with the monk Shide.More at Wikipedia.
- Heavenly Kings (天王): Groups of "devarajas," depicted as kings or generals, and often seen as temple guardians. There are often four near the front of a temple, and 20 or 24 in the main hall. More at Wikipedia.
- Jade Buddha (玉佛): A Buddha statue carved from jade, a durable, valuable, beautiful and (many believe) lucky material. Jade Buddhas in Chinese temples often come from southern Asian countries, especially Burma.
- Ji Gong (济公): Also known as Daoji (道济), he was a wild character in the Chan (Zen) tradition. He is often shown holding a gourd filled with alcohol. More at Wikipedia.
- Jianzhen, Master (鉴真大师): Tang-Dynasty monk who, in his senior years, made five unsuccessful attempts to reach Japan to teach Buddhism. His sixth attempt was successful, and he liver there ten years, until his death. Closely associated today with Daming Temple in Yangzhou. More at Wikipedia.
- Jinhua Furen (金花夫人): A (usually Taoist) goddess of childbirth, sometimes called "Lady Golden Flower."
- Kartikeya SEE Skanda-Kumara
- Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva (地藏菩萨): The Bodhisattva who has promised to save all beings from Hell. Mistakenly called a "King" in some Chinese traditions. More at Wikipedia.
- Kubera SEE Vaishravana
- Kuiji (窥基): A key disciple/assistant to Xuanzang, considered to be the first patriarch of the Faxiang (Yogacara) Sect. More at Wikipedia.
- Kumarajiva (鸠摩罗什): Fourth-century Central Asian monk and translator, famous for numerous translations into Chinese performed at the Chinese capital of Chang'an (modern Xi'an). More at Wikipedia.
- Kungfu (功夫): A style of fighting said to have originated at Shaolin Temple in Henan.
More at Wikipedia. - Maitreya (弥勒): The most advanced of the Bodhisattvas, he will become the next Buddha. Often called "Mile Fo (Buddha) in China, but actually Mile PUSA (Bodhisattva). More at Wikipedia.
- Main Hall: The central hall in a Buddhist compound, often called the "Da Xiong Bao Dian (大雄宝殿)," or "Precious Hall of the Great Hero," after one title of the Shakyamuni Buddha. Some temples, though, may have another Buddha, or another figure entirely, on their main altar.
- Mountain Gate (山门): The main entry to a temple, usually containing statues of the two generals called "Heng" and "Ha." It is the separation between the mundane "world of red dust" and the sacred precincts.
- Murugan SEE Skanda-Kumara
- Namo Amitofo (南无阿弥陀佛): "Praise to Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀佛)," it is said that repetition of this phrase ensures one a place in the Pure Land (净土). More at Wikipedia.
- Pagoda (塔): A tall building located on temple grounds, often containing relics of the Buddha or another important figure. Of the many designs, the multistoried style with numerous balconies and eaves is most familiar. More at Wikipedia. Another style, shaped like a mound or bottle, is usually called a stupa.
- patriarch (祖): One of the masters of a sect or school, also sometimes called an "ancestor." Each of the Eight Schools of Buddhism in China honors its own set of patriarchs.
- Pilgrim (香客): One who journeys to religious sites for religious purposes. Not a tourist.
- Pure Land (净土): Not Heaven, but a peaceful place in which one can practice with more focus until one gains enlightenment; presided over by Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀佛). More at Wikipedia.
- Pure Land Sect (淨土宗): one of the Eight Schools of Buddhism in China, honoring the Buddha Amitabha and the place he has prepared for faithful followers, called the "Western Pure Land." More at Wikipedia.
- Rakshasa (also raksha) (罗刹): a kind of demon in Indian and Buddhist thought. More at Wikipedia.
- Relic (舍利子): The physical remains of a holy person, or of an object associated with one, as venerated in several religions. In Buddhism these are often the crystals found after cremation. More at Wikipedia.
- Shakyamuni (释迦牟尼): The sage (muni) of the Shakya clan, the group into which the historical Buddha was born. And so it is a way of designating that Buddha form many others. More at Wikipedia.
- Shide (拾得): Monk and close friend of Hanshan. More at Wikipedia.
- Shancai SEE Sudhana
- Shandao (善导): An important patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism who lived at Xiangji Temple in Xi'an. More at Wikipedia.
- Skanda-Kumara (also Murugan, Kartikeya, and Subrahmanya) (塞建那): A guardian figure sacred in Buddhist and other Indian thought. Son of a major god, usually Shiva. More at Wikipedia.
- Subrahmanya SEE Skanda-Kumara
- Sudhana (善財): A young monk, he is usually seen standing next to Guanyin (观音) opposite the Dragon Girl (龙女). More at Wikipedia.
- Three Saints (or Sages) of the West (西方三圣): Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀佛) with his attendant bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara (观音) and Mahasthamaprapta (大势至). Together they are considered representatives of the Pure Land of the West. More at Wikipedia.
- turtle (龟): A symbol of longevity, commonly seen in temples both live and as statuary. More at Wikipedia.
- Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛): Considered to be the manifestation or embodiment of the entire universe, and a favorite in esoteric Buddhism. Also called the "Great Sun Buddha." More at Wikipedia.
- Vaishravana (also Kubera) (多闻天王=Duo Wen Tianwang): One of the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) found in the first hall of most temples. Vaishravana is sometimes shown with a yellow face, holding a umbrella, a mongoose, or a stupa (pagoda). He is sometimes considered the "king" or protector of the north, and is associated with wealth. More at Wikipedia.
- Virudhaka (增长天王=Zeng Zhang Tianwang): One of the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) found in the first hall of most temples. Virudhaka is sometimes shown with a red face, holding a sword. He is sometimes considered the "king" or protector of the south, and uses his sword to defend the truth. More at Wikipedia.
- Virupaksa (广目天王=Guang Mu Tianwang): One of the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) found in the first hall of most temples. Virupaksa is sometimes shown with a white face, holding a serpent, a stupa (pagoda), or a pearl. He is sometimes considered the "king" or protector of the west, and is considered responsible for the weather. More at Wikipedia.
- Wheel of Dharma SEE Dharma Wheel
- Xingyun, Master (星云大师): Jiangsu-born founder of Taiwan's Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, one of the world's largest. More at Wikipedia here (Master Xingyun) and here (Fo Guang Shan).
- Xuanzang (玄奘): A Tang-Dynasty monk who made the journey to India and back over a 17-year period. More at Wikipedia.
- Yanti (释延提): A former student and now friend who is a monk at Shaolin Temple.
- Yongqian (释永乾): A great master at Shaolin Temple, and dharma brother to the current abbot Yongxin.
- Yuance (圆测): Also known as Woncheuk, Korean disciple of Xuanzang. More at Wikipedia.
