归元寺英文导游词

归元寺英文导游词

guiyuan∵temple∵

chinese∵buddhist∵temples∵are∵never∵single∵buildings.∵they∵always∵consist∵of∵a∵group∵buildings∵following∵a∵fundamental∵patter,∵which∵can,∵however,∵be∵modified.∵the∵main∵buildings∵and∵their∵symmetrically∵corresponding∵secondary∵buildings∵form∵inpidual∵groups∵and∵courtyards.∵the∵entire∵temple∵complex∵is∵spacious.∵the∵building∵inside∵the∵complex∵are∵usually∵single-storied∵and∵the∵main∵halls∵are∵sometimes∵decorated∵with∵a∵double∵roof.∵the∵towers,∵pavilions∵and∵halls∵can∵be∵multi-storied∵structures.∵

the∵chinese∵temple∵complex∵has∵been∵subject∵to∵great∵structural∵changes∵throughout∵the∵centuries.∵but∵temple∵architects∵follow∵the∵basic∵principles∵of∵secular∵structures∵from∵the∵tang∵dynasty∵onwards.∵the∵complexes∵stand∵on∵a∵central∵axis,∵usually∵a∵north-south∵axis:∵east-west∵only∵as∵an∵exception.∵（guiyuan∵temple∵is∵just∵the∵very∵exception.）∵the∵main∵buildings∵are∵strung∵along∵this∵central∵axis,∵their∵broadest∵sides∵facing∵south∵or∵east.∵

the∵most∵important∵and∵most∵frequently∵presented∵building∵inside∵a∵buddhist∵temple∵complex∵are∵the∵main∵entrance∵gate,∵the∵bell∵and∵drum∵towers,∵the∵hall∵of∵the∵heavenly∵kings,∵the∵hall∵of∵the∵buddha∵and∵a∵pagoda.∵

buddhism∵is∵said∵to∵be∵founded∵in∵india∵in∵the∵6th∵century∵bc∵by∵siddatha∵gautama∵（bc565∵–bc486）,∵the∵son∵of∵a∵nobleman∵and∵member∵of∵the∵kshatriya∵caste∵near∵the∵present∵borders∵of∵india∵and∵nepal.∵buddhism∵advocates∵that∵all∵the∵people∵are∵created∵equal∵and∵turns∵against∵the∵caste∵system∵of∵brahmanism,∵so∵it∵was∵popular∵with∵the∵common∵people.∵

it∵was∵said∵that∵buddhism∵was∵spread∵to∵china∵in∵2∵bc.∵at∵the∵beginning,∵it∵was∵only∵regarded∵as∵a∵kind∵of∵witch.∵about∵200∵ad,∵chinese∵version∵of∵buddhist∵s∵criptures∵began∵to∵appear,∵and∵thus,∵buddhist∵doctrines∵began∵to∵emerge∵with∵traditional∵chinese∵religious∵thought.∵from∵2nd∵century∵to∵late∵6th∵century,∵translation∵and∵research∵of∵buddhist∵sects∵with∵chinese∵characteristics∵were∵becoming∵more∵and∵more∵popular∵and∵many∵temples∵were∵built,∵which∵reached∵its∵peak∵in∵sui∵dynasty∵（581ad-617ad）∵and∵tang∵dynasty∵（618-907）.∵some∵buddhist∵sects∵with∵chinese∵characteristics∵came∵into∵being.∵buddhism∵exerts∵a∵great∵influence∵on∵chinese∵philosophy,∵literature,∵art∵and∵folk∵customs.∵

what∵is∵presented∵before∵our∵eyes∵is∵a∵copper∵statue∵of∵a∵famous∵bodhisattva∵in∵hynayana∵buddhism.∵bodhisattva∵is∵a∵tittle∵which∵is∵only∵next∵to∵buddha.∵this∵statue∵is∵the∵image∵of∵avalokitesvara,∵which∵has∵been∵popular∵with∵chinese∵people∵or∵more∵than∵1,000∵years.∵she∵is∵called∵the∵goddess∵of∵mercy∵cordially∵by∵chinese∵and∵is∵regarded∵as∵the∵symbol∵of∵kindness,∵mercy∵and∵benevolence.∵when∵we∵visit∵the∵avalokitesvara∵pavilion∵after∵a∵while,∵i∵will∵give∵a∵detailed∵introduction∵about∵her.∵this∵copper∵statue∵was∵sent∵to∵guiyuan∵temple∵by∵taiwan∵buddhists∵in∵september∵1990.∵it∵shows∵that∵all∵chinese,∵whether∵in∵the∵mainland∵or∵in∵taiwan,∵are∵eager∵for∵the∵reunion∵of∵the∵country,∵even∵including∵religion∵believers.∵

the∵building∵we∵see∵now∵is∵the∵buddha∵hall∵where∵one∵certain∵buddha∵and∵his∵two∵assistant∵bodhisattvases∵are∵worshiped.∵this∵buddha∵is∵amitabha∵buddha.∵amitabha∵means∵incomparable∵brightness.∵according∵to∵buddhism,∵time∵and∵space∵is∵limitless∵and∵thus∵there∵are∵many∵many∵buddhas∵in∵different∵spaces∵and∵times.∵but∵in∵a∵certain∵space∵or∵in∵a∵certain∵period∵of∵time,∵there∵is∵only∵one∵certain∵buddha∵who∵is∵in∵charge∵of∵instructing∵all∵living∵creatures.∵amitabha∵buddha∵is∵the∵buddha∵who∵presides∵over∵the∵land∵of∵ultimate∵bliss∵in∵the∵west,∵which∵will∵come∵in∵the∵future.∵buddhist∵s∵criptures∵describe∵the∵land∵of∵ultimate∵bliss∵as∵a∵wonderland,∵in∵which∵no∵pain∵exists∵and∵the∵people∵enjoy∵their∵lives.∵in∵one∵word,∵it’s∵very∵attractive.∵some∵people∵will∵think∵it∵must∵be∵very∵difficult∵to∵enter∵such∵a∵world.∵how∵can∵i∵go∵to∵such∵a∵paradise?∵maybe∵i∵have∵to∵work∵hard∵and∵bear∵a∵lot∵of∵sufferings.∵in∵fact,∵it’s∵very∵easy∵to∵enter∵the∵world.∵he∵only∵need∵often∵murmur∵‘may∵buddha∵preserve∵us’∵sincerely.∵it’s∵enough.∵

you∵see,∵the∵statue∵in∵the∵middle∵is∵the∵very∵buddha.∵on∵his∵left∵is∵the∵goddess∵of∵mercy.∵on∵his∵right∵is∵the∵other∵bodhisattva∵who∵follows∵the∵buddha.∵it∵is∵said∵that∵he∵can∵save∵all∵the∵living∵creatures∵from∵three∵kinds∵of∵terrible∵disasters.∵

now,∵let’s∵step∵into∵the∵buddhist∵s∵criptures∵pavilion∵where∵the∵s∵criptures∵of∵buddhism∵are∵kept.∵but∵i∵‘m∵afraid∵what∵attracts∵our∵attention∵at∵the∵first∵sight∵must∵be∵this∵snow-white∵statue.∵it∵is∵a∵statue∵of∵sakyamuni,∵the∵founder∵of∵buddhism.∵this∵statue∵was∵carved∵out∵of∵a∵big∵piece∵of∵jade∵which∵is∵2-meter-tall∵and∵weighs∵3∵tons.∵it∵was∵carved∵by∵myanmar∵handicraftsmen∵and∵donated∵to∵the∵temple∵by∵the∵rangoon∵buddhists∵in∵1935.∵

if∵we∵watch∵the∵statue,∵we∵may∵sense∵that∵the∵peaceful∵expression∵on∵the∵buddha’s∵face∵has∵brought∵us∵to∵a∵quiet∵and∵harmonious∵state.∵

the∵last∵building∵we∵will∵visit∵is∵the∵avalokitesvara∵pavilion∵in∵the∵north∵yard.∵when∵we∵entered∵the∵yard∵just∵now∵we∵saw∵a∵statue∵of∵her.∵now∵i’d∵like∵to∵introduce∵her∵carefully.∵

as∵a∵goddess,∵she∵swore∵that∵she∵would∵not∵become∵a∵buddha∵until∵all∵the∵living∵creatures∵suffering∵from∵pains∵were∵saved.∵so∵she∵became∵a∵bodhisattva∵who∵is∵most∵popular∵among∵the∵people∵and∵attracts∵the∵most∵believers∵of∵all∵the∵gods∵and∵goddesses∵in∵buddhism.∵it∵was∵said∵that∵one∵would∵be∵saved∵from∵trouble∵and∵disaster∵as∵long∵as∵he∵（she）∵chanted∵her∵name∵and∵if∵it∵was∵heard∵by∵her.∵thus∵she∵is∵called∵guanshiyin,∵which∵means∵‘hearing∵or∵looking∵on∵the∵voices∵of∵the∵suffering’.∵because∵of∵her∵kind∵heart∵and∵benevolence∵she∵got∵another∵title∵‘the∵goddess∵of∵mercy’.∵

according∵to∵buddhism,∵bodhisattvases∵have∵no∵distinction∵of∵sex,∵that∵is,∵they∵are∵neither∵male∵nor∵female,∵because∵they∵are∵immortals.∵but∵it’s∵very∵strange∵and∵interesting∵that∵most∵of∵bodhisattvases∵were∵engraved∵or∵carved∵in∵the∵images∵of∵various∵kinds∵of∵men∵in∵human∵society.∵changes∵didn’t∵take∵place∵until∵an∵emperor’s∵mother∵thought∵it∵was∵inconvenient∵to∵worship∵a∵male∵bodhisattva∵in∵her∵bedroom.∵from∵then∵on,∵guanshiyin,∵the∵bodhisattvas∵began∵to∵appear∵before∵her∵believers∵in∵the∵image∵of∵a∵beautiful∵and∵elegant∵lady.∵

we’ll∵pay∵a∵visit∵to∵a∵very∵serious,∵sacred∵place.∵generally,∵the∵place∵is∵regarded∵as∵the∵most∵holy∵by∵buddhists.∵it∵is∵the∵grand∵hall,∵where∵the∵founder∵of∵buddhism,∵sakyamuni∵is∵worshiped.∵it∵is∵always∵the∵center∵of∵a∵buddhist∵temple∵in∵construction∵and∵in∵buddhists’∵mind.∵

the∵statue∵in∵the∵middle∵is∵sakyamuni.∵according∵to∵buddhism∵his∵mother∵gave∵birth∵to∵him∵in∵a∵garden.∵he∵belonged∵to∵kshatreya∵caste.∵he∵married∵his∵cousin∵when∵he∵was∵16∵or∵17∵years∵old.∵at∵the∵age∵of∵29,∵he∵was∵confronted∵with∵the∵sights∵of∵an∵old∵man,∵a∵sick∵man,∵a∵corpse,∵and∵a∵wandering∵ascetic.∵with∵eyes∵opened∵to∵aspects∵of∵life∵newly∵revealed∵to∵him,∵he∵broke∵from∵the∵material∵world∵and∵became∵an∵ascetic.∵six∵years∵later,∵he∵gave∵up∵mystic∵concentration∵that∵at∵last∵brought∵him∵enlightenment∵under∵a∵bo∵tree.∵he∵then∵founded∵an∵order∵of∵mendicants∵and∵spent∵his∵next∵45∵years∵preaching∵his∵ideas∵until∵his∵death.∵

these∵two∵statue∵beside∵the∵buddha∵are∵his∵two∵disciples.∵the∵one∵on∵the∵right∵was∵said∵to∵be∵sakyamuni’s∵cousin∵and∵he∵had∵good∵memory∵so∵that∵he∵could∵remember∵all∵the∵buddha∵told∵his∵disciples.∵the∵one∵on∵the∵left∵was∵said∵to∵be∵the∵lord∵of∵brahmnism∵and∵he∵once∵was∵sakyamuni’s∵tutor.∵but∵afterwards∵he∵was∵convinced∵by∵buddhism∵after∵long-term∵debate∵between∵buddhism∵and∵other∵religions∵and∵he∵accepted∵sakyamuni∵as∵his∵tutor.∵thus∵he∵became∵the∵eldest∵one∵of∵all∵sakyamuni’s∵disciples.∵

next,∵we’ll∵pay∵a∵visit∵to∵the∵ahrat∵hall∵in∵the∵south∵court.∵

the∵ahrat∵hall∵is∵an∵important∵structure∵in∵a∵buddhist∵temple.∵but∵not∵all∵temples∵have∵an∵ahrat∵hall,∵especially,∵well-kept∵ahrat∵halls∵are∵very∵rare∵in∵china.∵this∵one∵is∵among∵them,∵and∵what’s∵more,∵it∵has∵its∵own∵unique∵characteristics.∵

generally,∵an∵ahrat∵hall∵is∵a∵square∵building.∵the∵building∵is∵subpided∵into∵four∵small∵square∵courts∵so∵that∵the∵hall∵can∵get∵enough∵sunlight.∵this∵kind∵of∵structure∵show∵some∵lucky∵implies∵in∵chinese∵buddhist∵culture.∵

another∵characteristic∵about∵the∵hall∵lies∵in∵these∵sculptures∵themselves.∵they∵were∵neither∵made∵up∵of∵wood,∵nor∵stone,∵nor∵clay.∵a∵special∵way∵was∵taken∵in∵making∵them,∵which∵could∵prevents∵them∵from∵being∵burned,∵being∵soaked∵or∵being∵eaten∵by∵insects.∵all∵the∵sculptures∵were∵floating∵in∵water∵while∵wuhan∵was∵flooded∵in∵1954,∵but,∵surprisingly,∵they∵were∵sound∵and∵safe∵after∵the∵flood∵had∵receded.∵it∵was∵really∵a∵wonder.∵

ahrats∵are∵the∵immortals∵in∵buddhism.∵but∵when∵you∵have∵a∵look∵around∵the∵sculptures,∵you∵may∵find∵from∵the∵expressions∵on∵their∵faces∵that∵they∵are∵so∵familiar∵to∵you.∵that’s∵only∵because∵they∵were∵molded∵on∵the∵basis∵of∵the∵people∵in∵the∵reality,∵so∵they∵are∵human∵beings∵in∵our∵daily∵life∵rather∵than∵immortals.∵

ahrats∵are∵the∵symbols∵of∵harmony,∵happiness,∵and∵good∵luck,∵so∵the∵wuhan∵natives∵have∵got∵used∵to∵counting∵ahrats∵since∵ancient∵time∵to∵pray∵for∵peace.∵there∵are∵a∵few∵ways∵of∵counting∵ahrats.∵we∵can∵count∵from∵the∵first∵ahrat∵from∵left∵to∵right∵or∵from∵right∵to∵left,∵when∵we∵just∵enter∵the∵hall.∵we∵can∵also∵choose∵any∵ahrat∵as∵our∵starting∵point,∵and∵count∵in∵the∵same∵way,∵left∵to∵right∵or∵right∵to∵left.∵we∵should∵base∵counting∵on∵our∵own∵ages∵whatever∵we∵take.∵for∵example,∵i’m∵25,∵so∵i∵should∵stop∵in∵front∵of∵the∵25th∵ahrat∵from∵the∵starting∵ahrat.∵the∵sculpture∵in∵front∵of∵which∵i∵stop∵is∵my∵lucky∵ahrat.∵my∵lucky∵ahrat∵will∵accompany∵me∵to∵spend∵a∵peaceful∵and∵lucky∵year.∵wouldn’t∵you∵like∵to∵have∵a∵try∵now?∵if∵you∵need,∵i∵can∵explain∵connotation∵of∵some∵ahrats.∵

that’s∵all∵for∵the∵explanation∵to∵guiyuan∵temple.∵thank∵you∵for∵your∵cooperation∵and∵understanding.∵you∵will∵have∵another∵30∵minutes∵to∵have∵a∵look∵around∵the∵temple.∵if∵you∵have∵any∵problems,∵do∵let∵me∵know.∵i∵would∵like∵to∵repeat∵our∵bus∵number,∵a3074.∵please∵don’t∵forget.∵see∵you∵later.∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵∵