The drum tower is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples.[1] Together with a bell tower, they are usually placed on both sides of the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings.[1] It is usually located on the right side while the bell tower is usually located on the left side.[1] Generally, it is a three-storey pavilion with a big drum placed on it.[1] When it is beaten, it sounds grandly and loudly.[1] Buddhist temples set times to beat the drums to inform the time and also wake people up.[1][2][3]
| Drum tower | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鼓樓 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 鼓楼 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Drum tower | ||||||
| |||||||
They are found in China and other countries of the region.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Zi Yan 2012, p. 34.
- ^ Wei Ran (2012-06-01). Buddhist Buildings. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press. ISBN 9787112142880.
- ^ Han Xin (2006-04-01). Well-Known Temples of China. Shanghai: The Eastern Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 7506024772.
Bibliography
edit- Zi Yan (2012). "Xiantong Temple in Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province". Famous Temples in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-3146-7.
- Wang Jia (2012). "Mount Wutai: Xiantong Temple". Famous Mountains in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-2704-0.
Further reading
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drum towers (Chinese Buddhism).
- 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.
- 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.