Share to: share facebook share twitter share wa share telegram print page

 

Free Life Pond

Free Life Pond
The Free Life Pond at Guangxiao Temple in Guangzhou.
Chinese放生
Literal meaningFree Life Pond
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinFàngshēng Chí

A Free Life Pond is a type of pond at Han Chinese Buddhist temples.[1] It is usually located in front of the Shanmen or the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings.[1] The Free Life Pond embodies Buddhist thoughts of compassion and understanding of all living beings.[1]

History

The Free Life Pond was firstly mentioned in the Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom (大智度論), which read: "建德六年,齐地佛门遭劫。闻率僧众四十余循海路奔建康。辄遇大风波,楫折船沉。忽现巨龟,负众僧出水,须臾抵健康。闻口称南无阿弥陀佛。龟对曰:师父曾记否,吾乃海曲放生池之老龟也。闻恍然大悟。奏闻宣帝,帝大悦,敕建报恩寺,香火祀之。".[1]

The Free Life Pond was originate erected by Zhiyi, founder of Tiantai school, in the Sui dynasty (589–618).[1] In 759, Emperor Suzong of the Tang dynasty (618–907) ordered all Buddhist temples to set up Free Life Pond.[1] According to Duo Po Ming Jing (多宝名经; 多寶名經), at that time, 81 Buddhist temples set up free life ponds under the emperor's command.[1]

Function

The Free Life Pond can regulate the air, inhibit dust, but also has the role of fire prevention.[1] If the Buddhist temple is on fire, the water in the pond can be used to fight the fire.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Zhang Yuhuan 2014, pp. 115–116.

Bibliography

  • Zhang Yuhuan (2014-06-01). 《图解中国佛教建筑、寺院系列》 [Illustration of Chinese Buddhist Architecture and Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN 9787515401188.

Further reading

  • Zi Yan (2012). Famous Temples in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-3146-7.
  • Wang Jia (2012). Famous Mountains in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-2704-0.
  • Wang Guixiang (2016-06-17). 《中国汉传佛教建筑史——佛寺的建造、分布与寺院格局、建筑类型及其变迁》 [The History of Chinese Buddhist Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press. ISBN 9787302427056.
Kembali kehalaman sebelumnya


Index: pl ar de en es fr it arz nl ja pt ceb sv uk vi war zh ru af ast az bg zh-min-nan bn be ca cs cy da et el eo eu fa gl ko hi hr id he ka la lv lt hu mk ms min no nn ce uz kk ro simple sk sl sr sh fi ta tt th tg azb tr ur zh-yue hy my ace als am an hyw ban bjn map-bms ba be-tarask bcl bpy bar bs br cv nv eml hif fo fy ga gd gu hak ha hsb io ig ilo ia ie os is jv kn ht ku ckb ky mrj lb lij li lmo mai mg ml zh-classical mr xmf mzn cdo mn nap new ne frr oc mhr or as pa pnb ps pms nds crh qu sa sah sco sq scn si sd szl su sw tl shn te bug vec vo wa wuu yi yo diq bat-smg zu lad kbd ang smn ab roa-rup frp arc gn av ay bh bi bo bxr cbk-zam co za dag ary se pdc dv dsb myv ext fur gv gag inh ki glk gan guw xal haw rw kbp pam csb kw km kv koi kg gom ks gcr lo lbe ltg lez nia ln jbo lg mt mi tw mwl mdf mnw nqo fj nah na nds-nl nrm nov om pi pag pap pfl pcd krc kaa ksh rm rue sm sat sc trv stq nso sn cu so srn kab roa-tara tet tpi to chr tum tk tyv udm ug vep fiu-vro vls wo xh zea ty ak bm ch ny ee ff got iu ik kl mad cr pih ami pwn pnt dz rmy rn sg st tn ss ti din chy ts kcg ve 
Prefix: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9