Sacred Space

Although I am not a religious person, Chinese temple architecture gives me a deep sense of calm and satisfaction. Whether Buddhist, Daoist or Confucian, Chinese temples all embody the architecture of the courtyard-style house, albeit writ large. Constructed on a North-South axis, the space is divided into smaller square courtyards surrounded by buildings on each side of the square. For each courtyard, the North Building is the most important, with each courtyard leading further North until one comes to the northernmost courtyards, housing the most sacred artifacts and statuary. There are exceptions, of course, and the architecture of Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, California, reverses the North-South polarity that is the norm in China.

In Chinese temple courtyards one finds believers in prayer at incense burners or stroking holy objects thought to bring good fortune. Inside, believers prostrate themselves on prayer mats before the statues of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas, especially Guanyin. Wandering through the many side courtyards, one finds the living quarters for monks and novitiates, often engaged in the mundane tasks of everyday life.