• Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.121-142
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• 2024

What should death be like for a deeply venerated or highly prominent Buddhist monastic? This question itself does not just pertain to death rituals, funerals, or cremations but also to the entire process, as understood within the tradition, of leaving this realm and entering into another. It is in all of these aspects that something exceptional should be highlighted to exemplify accomplishments of the given individual's religious life, and draw attention to the profound spiritual attainment of that figure that devotees believe lies beyond what is achievable by ordinary humans. The recent death of Venerable Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, led to plentiful discussions in Taiwanese society from people of all walks of life, spanning scholars to media and citizens. This study will reveal the peculiarities of this interesting case, mainly as it relates to the late master's mortuary rites. In doing so, other monastics who passed away in contemporary times will be brought up for comparison. In addition to its notable innovations and creativity, the focal case of the mortuary rites for Hsing Yun manifests the tension between traditional and modern Buddhist ideologies and practices; especially as these tensions unfold within the Humanistic Buddhist context.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.115-129
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• 2011

The bracket sets which are supporting the weight of the roof, has to meet both requirements which are structural functions and act as an ornamental element. Therefore the bracket sets differ in many types from time and space and has done an important role in the history of architecture with many studies being presented. The first form of the bracket set has been found in the bronze table relics in zhong shan wang ling (中山王陵). Through the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25-220) it became more specific in the shique (石闕) and huaxiangshi (畵像石) in the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220). Afterwards, as Buddhism was introduced to China, the bracket construction techniques shown in the Mogao Caves, Yungang Grottoes, and Longmen Grottoes has given much help for understanding the building techniques of wooden architecture. Especially the Xia-ang structure seen in the Mogao caves shows a vast development in wooden structure and a typical building would be the main hall of Fo Guang Shan monastery in Mt. Wutaishan from the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907). This accumulated techniques is inscribed in the 'Ying Zao Fa Shi (營造法式)' wooden structure designs which was published during the Northern Song dynasty (A.D. 960-1127) and many buildings were constructed following this technique after the publication. During this period, it is assumed that Baek-jae (B.C.18-A.D.660) in the Korean peninsula also used the Xia-ang technique, but there havn't been many studies on this field. In this thesis it is introducing the development of the building techniques and structural features of the Xia-ang wooden architecture during the Tang and Song dynasty.