Patriarchs' Hall
The Patriarchs' Hall is a building in East Asian Buddhist temples enshrining the founding monk or a highly revered national master of the temple, a specific tradition, or of Buddhism in that country. Patriarchs' Hall serves as centers of commemoration, venerating the lineage and legacy of these masters, and are distinct from halls dedicated to celestial Buddhas or bodhisattvas. The architectural style, specific nomenclature, and the figures enshrined within these halls reflect the unique historical development and cultural integration of Buddhism in each country.
In Chinese Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Zushi Tang or Zushi Dian. In Japanese Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Soshidō or Mieidō. In Korean Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Josadang. In Vietnamese Buddhist temples, they are usually termed the Tổ Sư Đường or Tổ Đường.
China
In Chinese Buddhism, particularly within the Chan Buddhism tradition, the Patriarchs' Hall is also often called Zu Tang or Ying Tang, is a key building within a temple's architectural layout. It is dedicated to the founding monks of the specific lineage. The hall symbolizes the unbroken "mind-to-mind" transmission of the Dharma from master to disciple, a core principle of Chan Buddhism.The establishment of Patriarchs' Hall is intrinsically linked to the sinicization of Buddhism and the rise of Chan Buddhism during the Tang dynasty. As various lineages formed, the need to honor their respective founders grew. These halls are typically located within the main temple compound, often to the side of the primary Buddha hall. Their architectural style follows the general principles of Chinese temple architecture, featuring wooden post-and-beam structures, curved roofs, and ornate decorations. The interior is often solemn and serene, focusing attention on the enshrined figures.
The Patriarchs' Hall is the most important annex halls in Chinese Buddhist temples for enshrining masters of various Buddhist schools. It is generally situated to the west of the Mahavira Hall. Three types of statues are typically always enshrined in the Patriarchs' Hall, namely the founder of the school, a senior monk or monks who made significant contributions to the establishment of the school and the founder of the temple or the lineage the temple belongs to.
The founders of the various traditions of Chinese Buddhism are typically enshrined as the central image in most Patriarchs' Halls. In many Chan Buddhist temples, the Patriarchs' Hall typically has Bodhidharma enshrined in the middle, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng's statue on the left and Master Baizhang Huaihai's statue on the right. Patriarch Bodhidharma, or Damo, from south of ancient India, was the original ancestor of Chan Buddhism. The Sixth Patriarch Master Dajian Huineng was another influential Patriarch of Chan Buddhism who is often enshrined in the Patriarchs' Hall as well. After him, the Chan Buddhism was almost changed and had far-reaching influence on Chinese traditional culture. Baizhang Huaihai was the third generation disciple of Huineng and his main achievements included: applying Chan Buddhism into practice, creating a set of regulations for Chan Buddhist temples and contributing to the steady development of Chan Buddhism. Other Patriarchs are commonly enshrined as well, such as Daman Hongren and Yongjia Xuanjue. In Chinese Pure Land temples, the Patriarchs' Hall typically enshrine one or more of the Chinese Pure Land Patriarchs. The list of patriarchs enshrined include Lushan Huiyuan, who was the First Patriarch of the Pure Land tradition and founder of the first White Lotus Society, Jixing Chewu, who was a prominent Qing dynasty Pure Land Buddhist scholar, or Yinguang, who was the most recent Patriarch and widely regarded as an emanation of the Bodhisattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta. In Tiantai temples, the Patriarchs' Hall typically enshrines Zhiyi, who was the founder of the Tiantai tradition. Temples that were historically associated with eminent monastics usually also enshrine them in their respective Patriarchs' Halls, such as Faxian and Xuanzang.