Main hall of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese Ōbaku Zen Buddhist temples
This article is about the Main Hall in Chinese Buddhist temple. For the Main Hall in Japanese Buddhist temple, see Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism).
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A Mahavira Hall, usually simply known as a Main Hall, is the main hall or building in a traditional ChineseBuddhist temple, enshrining representations of Gautama Buddha and various other buddhas and bodhisattvas.[1][2] It is encountered throughout East Asia. In Chinese Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Daxiong Baodian or Daxiongbao Hall. In Japanese Ōbaku Zen Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Daiyū Hōden. In Korean Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Daeungjeon. In Vietnamese Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Dai Hung Buu Dien.
Names
From their importance and use, they are often simply known in English as the temples' "Main" or "Great Halls". The term "Mahavira Hall", also encountered as "Mahāvīra Hall" or "Hall of the Mahāvīra", is a reverse translation, employing the original Sanskrit term in place of its Chinese or English equivalent. They are also known as the Precious Hall of the Great Hero, the Hall of Great Strength, or the Daxiongbao Hall. Less often, a main hall is called an "adytum", after the equivalent area in Greco-Roman temples.[3] It is also sometimes misunderstood as the "Great, Powerful, and Precious Palace".[4]
China
Mahavira Hall is the main hall of a Buddhist temple.[5][6][7] It is generally located in the north of the Heavenly King Hall and serves as the core architecture of the whole temple and also a place for monks to practice.[5][6][7] Statues of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism are enshrined in the hall.[5][6][7]
Sakyamuni statues enshrined in the Mahavira Hall have three modeling postures.[5][6][7] The first is sitting in the lotus posture with the left hand placing on the left foot and the right hand dropping naturally, representing that he has sacrificed all he has for people before he becomes Buddha.[5][6][7] All these can only be proved by the ground.[5][6][7] This posture of the statues is called "posture of becoming Buddha" (成道相).[5][6][7] The second is sitting in the lotus posture with the left hand placing on the left foot and the right hand's finger ringing.[5][6][7] This is called "posture of preaching" (說法相), showing his postures when preaching.[5][6][7] The third is a standing Buddha with the left hand dropping, signifying the hope that all people can fulfill their wishes, and the right hand stretching arm, indicating all people can relieve their sufferings.[5][6][7] This posture is called "Sandalwood Buddha" (旃檀佛相).[5][6][7] Usually two disciples' statues are placed next to the statue of Sakyamuni, the older is called "Mahakassapa" and the middle-aged is called "Ānanda".[5][6][7]
At the back of Sakyamuni's statue, three statues of Bodhisattva facing the north are usually enshrined.[5][6][7] They are Manjushri Bodhisattva riding a lion, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva riding a white elephant and Guanyin Bodhisattva riding a dragon.[5][6][7] Some temples also set island scene behind Sakyamuni's statue and only enshrine the statue Guanyin Bodhisattva with a clean vase of water and a willow branch in it.[5][6][7]
Japan
Mahavira Hall in Japan emerged through cultural exchange, notably with the founding of Manpuku-ji in Kyoto Prefecture in 1661 by the Chinese monk Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki). Designed in the Ming dynasty style, the hall is built with keyaki (zelkova) wood, featuring symmetrical layouts and peach-shaped carvings to ward off evil. It enshrines Shakyamuni as the central image, reflecting the Obaku Zen sect's practices, which retain Chinese rituals like sutra chanting in Han Chinese. Manpuku-ji, designated a National Treasure in 2024.
Korea
In Korea, the Mahavira Hall, dates to the Unified Silla period (668–935), as exemplified at Tongdosa in South Gyeongsang Province. The current structure was rebuilt in 1644 during the Joseon dynasty. It stands on a 1-meter-high stone platform with a unique T-shaped roof and deep eaves supported by multiple brackets. Unlike other halls, it functions as a Diamond Precept Platform, housing Buddha's relics and a robe brought by monk Jajang from China instead of statues. Tongdosa's Mahavira Hall, designated National Treasure No. 290, underscores the role of relics in Korean Buddhist worship.
Vietnam
Vietnamese Mahavira Hall blend local and foreign influences, seen in temples like Bích Động in Ninh Binh Province (later Lê dynasty, 1428–1789) and Tây An in An Giang Province (1847). Bích Động's Mahavira Hall, a five-bay, double-eaved structure, nestles into limestone cliffs, while Tây An's two-story hall combines Vietnamese carvings with Indian-inspired domes. Both enshrine Shakyamuni Buddha statues, often intricately carved from wood. These sites, recognized as national cultural relics, highlight Vietnam's adaptive temple architecture.
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