Datong, Shanxi, China
善化寺 (Shànhuà sì) [Chinese]
大雄寶殿 (dàxióngbǎodiàn) [Chinese]
Architecture
The Great Buddha Hall was constructed during the Liao Dynasty. It is the third-largest extant Buddhist hall of ancient China. The structure stands on a broad platform, measuring 2.24 meters in height, which is flanked by a bell tower and a drum tower. The hall houses thirty-four clay sculptures from the Jin Dynasty.
structure overview
architectural element(s)
style/period
material
Architecture: Precious Hall of the Great Hero
full/alternative names
Main Hall,
Mahavira Hall,
Great Buddha Hall
built
11th century
work type
material
Architecture: Shanhua Temple
full/alternative names
Shanhua Monastry
historic names
Dapuen Temple
大普恩寺
(Dàpǔēn sì)
[Chinese]
907-960
Kaiyuan Temple
开元寺
(Kāiyuán sì)
[Chinese]
741-907
built
713-741
around 960
style/period
work type
architect / constr. phase
713-741
original monastary
960
reconstruction after Five Dynasties period after Liao dynasty takeover
1128-1143
repair and reconstruction after Jin dynasty takeover
Specifications
Specifications: Precious Hall of the Great Hero
width
26.2 m
length
41.8 m
Geography
local language location name
大同 (Dàtóng), 中國 (Zhōngguó) [Chinese]
historic location names
Pingcheng
平城
(Píngchéng)
[Chinese]
historical affiliations
1100-1122
1122-1234
1234-1271
1271-1368
1368-1644
1644-1912
1912-1949
Image characteristics
maximum image resolution
3,850 × 5,432 pixel
32.6 × 46.0 cm (300 dpi)
capture date
image processing
merged image,
perspective control,
colour corrected
copyrights
Benjamin Hemer
(contact@imaginoso.com (send an e-mail))