Another typical Buddhist building is the Stupa, which is a stone structure built over what are thought to be relics of the Buddha, or over copies of the Buddha's teachings.
Buddhist temples are designed to symbolise the five elements: * Fire * Air * Earth, symbolised by the square base * Water * Wisdom, symbolised by the pinnacle at the top
All Buddhist temples contain an image or a statue of Buddha.
From-http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/customs/worship_1.shtml
Buddhist temples, though frequently built on the site of existing shrines in Japan, have a different ostensible purpose from a Shinto shrine. Temples are generally dedicated to transcendent and universal named Buddha's or bodhisattvas who are not restricted to the area of the temple itself. Buddhist divine beings are represented iconically and worship is conducted according to the rites of a particular denomination or sect of Buddhism, whose teachings are preserved in extensive scriptures. The purpose of Buddhist ritual, meditation etc. is to produce merit, to purify the senses and to advance oneself or another (e.g. an ancestor or spirit) …show more content…
The Buddhist tradition, particularly in its esoteric forms (Tendai and Shingon in Japan) is rich in representational and symbolic art and sculpture. The symbol used on maps for a Buddhist temple is the swastika.(Which is actually an ancient cosmic or religious symbol formed by a Greek cross with the ends of the arms bent at right angles in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction-it means to be good, it was used by many cultures for over 3000 years! Until the Nazi's stole and changed