buddhism | thethesis

BUDDHISM

Monasteries (Vihara) ;

“A secluded place in which to walk.”

Used by wandering monks.
Residence for monks.
Centre for religious work.
Medidation.
Learning.
No discernible or obvious layout across all monasteries.

Temples (Chaitya) ;

Buddhist shrine including a stupa.
Built to hold large numbers of devotees and to provide shelter for them.
Monks originally carved temples out of rock with simple tools, known as cave temples.
A common layout of temples follows the majority of Buddhist temples, many representing different aspects of Buddhas body.
Typical plan of a Buddhist temple consists of a square inner space, a sacrificial arena with a surrounding ambulatory route separated by a line of columns with a conical or sloping roof, all set behind a porch or entrance area, framed by freestanding columns. The external form and profile represents ‘Mount Meru’; home of Gods and centre of the universe, according to the Buddhist religion.

Stupa ;

“The basis of offering.”

A mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, (typically the remains of Buddha), used as a place of worship.
Oldest Buddhist monuments to be built.
More of a structure and/or symbolic area than a building.
Represents the Buddhas body, speech, and mind (path to enlightenment).

Three types of structures associated with Buddhism; monasteries, stupas and temples.

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Festivals and Rituals of the Buddhist Year

Day in the Life of Monks from Thailand and the UK

To see some photographs from a visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia, click here. I specifically chose to show the 'ruin' of the Buddhist temples, rather than the grandeur. There are a plethora of temples and monasteries in the East, so much so that many are left to decay.

ANGKOR WAT