Fatang
{{chinese
| pic = KAM 7332 (6469404627).jpg
| picsize = 250px
| piccap = The Dharma Hall at Hanshan Temple, in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| t = {{linktext|法堂}}
| s = {{linktext|法堂}}
| p = Fǎtáng
| poj =
| w =
| l = Dharma Hall
| hangul =
| kanji =
| romanji =
}}
The Fatang (Traditional Chinese: 法堂, pinyin: Fǎtáng) (lit: “Dharma Hall”) is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples. The fatang is the place for senior monks to preach and generally ranks right after the Mahavira Hall.{{cite book |author= Zi Yan|title=Famous Temples in China|date=2012-08-01 |publisher=Time Publishing and Media Co., Ltd. |location=Beijing |pages= 35|isbn= 978-7-5461-3146-7}}
With the similar architecture form with other halls, the fatang is more spacious. In the central back, there is a high platform with a sitting chair putting in the middle. In front of the chair is a table with a small sitting Buddha on it, behind the platform is a screen or a picture of lion which is also known as "Roaring lion" ({{zh|c=獅子吼|p=|labels=no}}), hung on the wall. Seats are placed on both sides of the platform with bells and drums for senior monks to beat when they are preaching. There are also seats on both sides of the monks' seats for laymen to listen to the Buddha Dharma by senior monks.{{cite book |author=Wei Ran |title=Buddhist Buildings |date= 2012-06-01|publisher=China Architecture & Building Press |location= Beijing|isbn=9787112142880 }}{{cite book |author=Han Xin |title= Well-Known Temples of China|date= 2006-04-01|publisher= The Eastern Publishing Co. Ltd|location= Shanghai|isbn=7506024772}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |language=zh|author=Wang Guixiang |script-title=zh:《中国汉传佛教建筑史——佛寺的建造、分布与寺院格局、建筑类型及其变迁》|trans-title=The History of Chinese Buddhist Temples |date= 2016-06-17|publisher= Tsinghua University Press|location=Beijing |isbn=9787302427056}}
- {{cite book |language=zh|author= Zhang Yuhuan|script-title=zh:《图解中国佛教建筑、寺院系列》|date=2014-06-01 |publisher=Contemporary China Publishing House |location= Beijing|isbn=9787515401188}}
External links
{{Commons category|Dharma Halls|Dharma Hall}}
{{Buddhist temples in China}}