Longxing Monastery, Zhuanlunzang Pavilion  隆興寺轉輪藏閣

https://architecturasinica.org/place/000211

Names

  • Revolving Sutra Pavilion (English)
  • 轉輪藏閣 (Traditional Chinese)
  • 转轮藏阁 (Simplified Chinese)
  • Zhuǎnlùnzànggé (Pinyin)
  • Chuan-lun-tsang-ko (Wade-Giles)
  • Longxingsi Zhuanlunzangge (English)
  • 隆興寺轉輪藏閣 (Traditional Chinese)
  • 隆兴寺轉轮藏阁 (Simplified Chinese)
  • Zhuanlunzang ge
  • Zhuanlunzang Pavilion

Location

  • Coordinates:
    • Lat. 38.143563° Long. 114.576252°
  • Building Information

    The Longxing Monastery Zhuanlunzang Pavilion (Zhuanlunzang ge 轉輪藏閣) is a two-story pavilion named for the revolving cabinet for storing Buddhist sutras (zhuanlunzang 轉輪藏) inside of it. The pavilion is located on the west side of the courtyard in front of the Dabei Pavilion, facing east and is three bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-bay wide roofed portico (described as either baosha 抱厦 or fujie 副階) along the front (Guo 2009, 380-85; Hebei sheng Zhengding xian wenwu baoguansuo 2000, 15-16). It has a single-eaves, hip-gable 歇山 (aka jiuji 九脊 "nine-ridge" or shaliangtou 厦兩頭), roof and both upper and lower pillars display rise (shengqi 生起) toward the corners and inward incline, or batter, (cejiao 侧脚) of the pillars from their bases to tops. The building design is described as falling between the diange 殿閣/diantang 殿堂 and tingtang 廳堂 styles as described in Yingzao fashi 營造法式 (Guo 2009, 380-85). There are three types of pillars used, including the portico pillars (fujiezhu 副階柱), eaves pillars (yanzhu 檐柱), and inner pillars (neizhu 内柱), all of which are circular. The pillars are supported by simple upturned basin-style bases 素覆盆式柱礎 (Zhengdingxian wenwu baoguansuo 2000, 15-16).2

    In the center of the lower level of this pavilion is a timber revolving sutra cabinet (zhuanlunzang 轉輪藏), which is a rotating bookshelf for sacred texts, such as the tripitaka (sanzang 三藏). It appears to have been built in accordance with the guidelines for revolving scripture cabinets as described in the small woodwork (xiaomuzuo 小木作) section in the Yingzao fashi 營造法式 (1103) (Zhengdingxian wenwu baoguansuo 2000, 15-6). Its plan is a regular octagon, with a pivot set at the center. A frame is built into the large wooden structure of the building to secure the position of the pivot. When pushed from the bottom, the revolving cabinet can rotate freely (Guo 2009, 380-85). This is a rare extant example of small woodwork from the Song Dynasty (Zhengdingxian wenwu baoguansuo 2000, 15-16).2

    隆興寺轉輪藏閣是一座二層樓閣,以內部收藏經文的轉輪藏而得名。轉輪藏閣位於大悲閣的西南側,朝向東。建築寬度為三開間,進深為三開間,前部帶有抱廈/副階 (郭 2009, 380-85;河北省正定縣文物保管所 2000,15-16) 。建築採用單簷九脊頂,上下層柱子均帶有生起和侧脚。屋頂形式介於《營造法式》(1103)所定的殿閣/殿堂廳堂之間(郭 2009,380-85)。對於柱子的使用分為三種,包括副階柱檐柱內柱,均為圓形。柱子下方均使用素覆盆式柱基來支撐(河北省正定縣文物保管所 2000,15-16)。2

    此閣的底層正中央放置了一個木製轉輪藏,即一個用於收藏經文的旋轉書架。該書架是根據宋代的《營造法式》中關於轉輪藏的制度所建造的(河北省正定縣文物保管所 2000,15-16)。平面呈現正八邊形,中心設有軸心,上端搭建在建築的大木結構上,限定了軸心的位置。當受到推動力時,底端便可旋轉(郭 2009,380-85)。這座轉輪藏堪稱是宋代小木作中的稀有文物(河北省正定縣文物保管所 2000,15-16)。2

    Date 1050-1100
    Dynasty Northern Song 960 - 1127 1

    Works Cited

    Any information without attribution has been created following the Syriaca.org editorial guidelines.

    • 1 WILKINSON. 2000. Chinese History: A Manual, 12.Link to Zotero Bibliographic Record
    • 2 河北省正定縣文物保管所. 2000. 正定隆興寺, 15-16.Link to Zotero Bibliographic Record; 郭. 2009. 中国古代建筑史:第三卷:宋,辽,金,西夏建筑, 380-85.Link to Zotero Bibliographic Record

    Contained in Place


    How to Cite This Entry

    CMW (HART 2815) F23, “Longxing Monastery, Zhuanlunzang Pavilion 隆興寺轉輪藏閣 ” in Architectura Sinica last modified June 15, 2024, https://architecturasinica.org/place/000211.

    Bibliography:

    CMW (HART 2815) F23, “Longxing Monastery, Zhuanlunzang Pavilion 隆興寺轉輪藏閣 .” In Architectura Sinica, edited by Tracy Miller. Entry published March 21, 2018. https://architecturasinica.org/place/000211.

    About this Entry

    Entry Title: Longxing Monastery, Zhuanlunzang Pavilion 隆興寺轉輪藏閣

    Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:

    • Tracy Miller, editor, Architectura Sinica
    • CMW (HART 2815) F23, entry contributor, “Longxing Monastery, Zhuanlunzang Pavilion 隆興寺轉輪藏閣

    Additional Credit:

    • Website coordination: Yuh-Fen Benda
    • Page creator: Tracy Miller
    • Description: YAN Yiyang 嚴一洋
    • Links: HUANG Liyu
    • Citations: SONG Qisen YAN Yiyang 嚴一洋
    • Editing, proofreading, and revision: Tracy Miller

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