Zenklooster plattegrond
Kijkje in de structuur van een Japans Zenklooster.
1. Mountain gate (sammon); 2. Buddha hall (butsuden); 3. Dharma hall (hattõ); 4. Latrine (tõsu); 5. Bath (yokushitsu); 6. Monks' hall (sõdõ); 7. Kitchen (kuri).
Although the layout of Japanese temples corresponds basically to that of their Chinese prototypes, there are small differences. The size of the buildings varies from temple temple. In the Buddha halls of Zen temples the primary cultic object is an image of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni at the moment of his enlightenment; other figures, also objects of devotion, usually accompany the image of Buddha.
One enters the temple area through the "Mountain Gate", symbolizing the purging of desires and conceptual thinking as one enters the realm of emptiness, and then mounts directly toward the Buddha hall. Reverencing of the Buddha image must be preceded by cleansing and purgative exercises. In these rituals washing and the purging of bodily impurities are necessary, for which purpose two wooden buildings, on the right and left, are located between the gate and the Buddha hall.
Two other buildings, the monks' hall of meditation (sõdõ) and the kitchen and storehouse (kuri), are located a little behind the Buddha hall. The seventh building is the Dharma hall (hattõ), in which an enlightened monk lectures on the holy scripture. This hall is situated on the central ascending axis, and constitutes the focal point of the entire complex.
Given differences in size and adornment, the arrangement of the buildings can also differ. In earlier temples, for instance, the monks' hall, the Dharma hall and the Mountain Gate occupied places of greater importance. In Tõfukuji, the layout of the buildings takes on a clear analogy to the human body.
