Longxing Monastery, Moni Hall  隆興寺摩尼殿

Building Information

The Moni Hall is located north of the Dajue liushi Hall foundation and would have been the third timber-frame structure on the central axis. Based on a craftsman’s inscription discovered during a recent renovation from 1976 to 1980, we know it was originally completed during the Northern Song dynasty, in the year 1052 (Guo 2009, 370).1

Despite renovations throughout its history, its core diantang style structure largely retains the style of the Song dynasty original. It is now the largest building surviving in the Longxing Monastery complex. It is seven bays wide and seven bays deep, measuring 33.29 meters wide and 27.12 meters deep. It has a double-eaves xieshan roof and the major bracket sets are Song Dynasty originals in five puzuo, with the first outward step in "stolen-heart" (touxin 偷心) style (Guo 2009, 373-375).1

The intercolumnar and corner bracket sets have two extra huagong in the 45-degree position respective to the wall plane (Guo 2009, 378). This type of bracket arm is also called a xiegong 斜栱. Moni Hall hosts a sculptural program including Sakyamuni framed by Manjusri and Samantabhadra on the main altar. On the opposite side of this altar, facing northward, is a sculpture of "Avalokitesvara on an Island in the Sea" (Haidao Guanyin 海島觀音) dated to 1563 (Guojia wenwuju 2013, 37).1

摩尼殿為隆興寺中軸線上第三座主要木構建築。 1976年至1980間，該殿進行了落架重修，於重修工程中發現宋皇祐四年（1052）的題記，證實了摩尼殿為該年所建（Guo 2009, 370）。1

盡管摩尼殿經明，清二代多次重修，其殿堂構架大體保留了宋代始建時的面貌。摩尼殿面闊七間，寬33.29米，進深七間，深27.12米，為隆興寺中現存規模最大的建築。其為重簷歇山頂，四面正中各出山面向外的歇山頂抱廈。枓栱為五鋪作偷心造，大體分為單梢單下昂與出雙梢的兩種類型（Guo 2009, 373-5）。1

其中補間鋪作與柱頭鋪作中以45度華栱為殿的特徵（Guo 2009, 378）。這類栱也被稱為斜栱。摩尼殿主要供奉華嚴三聖，阿彌陀佛，文殊菩薩，普賢菩薩，現存為宋塑原作（国家文物局 2013, 37）。1