India is one of the four ancient civilizations in the world. Hinduism is the state religion of India. Buddhism founded by Sakyamuni, whose believers only account for 0.8% of the total population. Since Buddhism was introduced to China in the Han Dynasty, it has been accepted by t

India is one of the four ancient civilizations in the world. Hinduism is the state religion of India. Buddhism founded by Sakyamuni, whose believers only account for 0.8% of the total population. Since was introduced to China in the Han Dynasty, Buddhism has been accepted by Chinese people who have repeatedly destroyed wars. Buddhism was spread to China from Western Regions along the Silk Road . Another branch was introduced to Tibet from Nepal and is called Lamaism. There is also a Southeast Asian country including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia , Laos , and other Southeast Asian countries, which were introduced to the Yunnan Province of my country. It is called: Hinayana Buddhism .

The difference between Mahayana and Hinayana is reflected in many aspects. First of all, in terms of view of Buddha Shakyamuni, Hinayana Buddhism generally regards him as a leader and a teacher, and a person who has achieved complete enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhism regards , Sakyamuni, as a Buddha with great power, boundless magic power, and omniscient and omnipotent knowledge. Hinayana Buddhism advocates practicing: precepts, concentration, and wisdom, and gaining wisdom through practicing meditation. In addition to the "three studies" and "eightfold paths", Mahayana Buddhism also focuses on practicing ", six paramitas, ", "four enchantments", and "bodhisattva practice". 未分类文版, the eminent monk Xuanzang decided to go to India to seek the true scriptures in the first year of Zhenguan (627 AD). Xuanzang traveled west to seek the Dharma, traveled back and forth for 17 years, traveling 50,000 miles, and traveled to the "thirty-eight countries" he had experienced. He brought back a total of 520 Buddhist scriptures, law and treatises in the Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhist scriptures, law and theory, and 657 pieces. Starting from the 19th year of Zhenguan, about twenty years, Xuanzang was mainly engaged in the translation of sutras and translated a total of 75 sutras and treatises, totaling 1,335 volumes.

After the Tang Dynasty, Buddhists affected the development of productivity in order to evade corvee, thus shaking the imperial power. There have been four major "destruction of Buddha" movements in China in history. They burned the temple when they saw it and killed the monk when they saw it. Only after the movement did a large number of stone-carved Buddha caves appear.

In my research on traditional Chinese architecture, I feel that Buddhism has indeed made great contributions to traditional Chinese architecture. I also understand the philosophical views through reading the scriptures, but I still regard the "six paths of reincarnation" and other things in religion as superstition. At present, the three types of Buddhism in our country are their own ways, and believers are obsessed with their beliefs. I also have my own unique beliefs, which does not affect my study and study of Chinese traditional architecture .

Yunnan Hinayana teaching Overlapping bowl Golden Pagoda

White Pagoda in Manfeilong Village, Puwen Town

White Horse Temple Hinayana teaching throne Vajra Pagoda

There are also Hinayana teaching plaques in the Chinese National Park in Beijing.

Han Changkai November 11, 2020