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Longhua Pagoda and Longhua Temple
In the middle of the Heavenly King Hall are two statues. The one facing the
Grand Hall is of the Bodhisattva Skanda, who was originally one of the eight
generals under the Southern King and was known for his outstanding bravery among
the total 32 generals. In Chinese Buddhist legend, since Skanda guards the holy
Buddhist ground, he is therefore the god of guardians for every temple built.
His statue usually has two images: one standing erect with joined palms and
holding a club in his arms; the other has a club in his left hand with one end
touching the ground, while his right hand rests on his waist and his left foot
protrudes slightly forward (in the military: "at ease"). The club in his hand is
a magical club that can subdue demons and eliminate worries. This Bodhisattva
Skanda also possesses many Han elements. Behind him is the statue of the
original Maitreya in Tusita, which is unlike the one in the first hall.
** Grand Hall
Next is the main hall, which is known as the Grand Hall, or
the Grand Hall of the Great Sage. With accessory halls on both sides, it is the
main structure in every Buddhist temple that enshrines the statue of Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism. "The Great Sage" is a title of honor for virtue and power,
indicating Buddha's great strength. Only Buddha can subdue the four demons: the
demon of five hells, the demon of death, the demon of the heavenly son and the
demon of worries. Four Chinese characters "Da Xiong Bao Dian" ("Grand
Hall of the Great Sage") were inscribed on the horizontal tablet overhead by the
famous Chinese calligrapher Dian Yuan. The tablet above this one has the Chinese
characters "Long Hua Shi Fang" ("Ten Directions of Longhua"), inscribed
by Tang Yun, a famous Chinese painter and calligrapher. The 10 directions are,
according to Buddhism, the south, west, east, north, southeast, southwest,
northeast, northwest, upper and lower.
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