The Bell tower is an important building in
Han Chinese Buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
s. Together with
Drum tower, they are usually placed on both sides of the
Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. It is usually on the left side while the Drum tower is usually on the right side. It is general a three-storey pavilion with a large bell hung in it. The loud and melodious sound of the bell is often used to convene monks. In each morning and night, beating the bell 108 times symbolizes the relief of the 108 kinds of trouble in the human world.
Examples
Bell tower of Xiantong Temple
The Bell tower of
Xiantong Temple
The Xiantong Temple () is a Buddhist temple located in Taihuai Town of Wutai County, Shanxi, China. The temple covers a total area of about , it preserves the basic architectural pattern of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). The tem ...
was built in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). A biggest copper bell is stored in the tower. It was cast between 1621 and 1627 during the
Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Weighing , it sounds deep and sonorous when beaten, which can pass away for and last for several minutes.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell tower
Chinese Buddhist architecture