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Natural harmony is an art that can be easily found in the ancient architectures of Mount Putuo.
Buddhism was foreign to China. It blended into the Chinese culture in its long history, however. The Buddhist temples in China also gained its Chinese character in this history and became an important ingredients of traditional Chinese architecture. Buddhist temples were mostly built in remote mountains and site selections were influenced
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greatly by Feng Shui. The typical setting of a Buddhist temple is that surrounded by mountains from the back, the left and the right, but facing a wide opening for a great view in the fortress style |
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 Art of the Buddhist Architecture |
 
Most temples on Mount Putuo face water and back into mountains. No matter where they are built, whether on top of a hill, on hillside or foothill, the temples seek to be “hidden”, and blend into trees and rocks. The surrounding is usually quiet and may even be mysterious. The winding paths leading toward the temples make them seemingly removed from the real world.
There are two main types of temples on Mount Putuo: palace style and residence style. Puji and Fayu temples are palace style temples. They develop along a middle axis with a refrained and structured layout. Huiji temple represents the residence style. The layout is much more freely and Huiji temple actually develops toward sides due to the limitation of the land.
Inside the temples, the halls are usually dimly lit. Candle lights may still be used on purpose. Only the statue of the Buddha, behind layers of half-drawn curtains, shines bright. The architecture of the Buddhist halls provides vast space inside, and the carefully designed lighting and interior decoration makes the atmosphere mysterious and enhances worshiper's admiration toward the Buddha.
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