Buddhist Temples in Southeast Asia and China

Buddhist temples and monasteries are the places of worship for followers of Buddhism. They include structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat, and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples represent the pure land or pure environment of Buddha. Traditional Buddhist temples are designed to inspire inner and outer peace.

Their architecture and structure vary from region to region. Usually, temples consist not only of buildings but also of the surrounding environment and are designed to symbolize five elements: fire, air, earth, water, and wisdom.

The Buddhist temples in Thailand are known as wats, from the Pāḷi vāṭa, meaning "enclosure." Wat architecture adheres to consistent principles. A wat, with few exceptions, consists of two parts: the Phutthawat and the Sangkhawat. The Phutthawat (Thai: พุทธาวาส) is the area dedicated to Buddha. The Sangkhawat is the area that is dedicated to the Sangha Buddhist monastic community.

Photographed in the 1980s