A Study on the Historical Evolution of Artistic Style and Layout
Characteristics of Buddhist Architecture in Tang Dynasty
Shujun Zhang
Environmental Design, Henan University Minsheng College, Henan, China
Keywords: Buddhist Architecture of the Tang Dynasty, Evolution of Artistic Style, Cultural Dissemination, Social and
Religious Background.
Abstract: Based on the historical evolution of the artistic style and layout characteristics of Buddhist architecture in the
Tang Dynasty, this paper takes the Great Wild Goose Pagoda as a case study. The study reveals how the Great
Wild Goose Pagoda is a combination of Han and foreign architectural styles, so as to show the exquisite
construction technology of the Tang Dynasty in the structure, showing its important role in the spread of
Buddhist culture. The research program on Tang Buddhist architecture provides methods and approaches for
understanding and preserving these precious cultural heritages. This paper explores how to shape the
architectural heritage of Buddhism and makes an in-depth analysis of Tang society's support and admiration
for Buddhism. Therefore, we can know the influence of Buddhist policies on the development of Buddhist
architecture, so as to provide useful reference value for protecting and inheriting the excellent traditional
culture of the Chinese nation.
1 INTRODUCTION
This study focuses on the Buddhist architecture of the
Tang Dynasty, as a treasure of ancient Chinese
architectural art, which not only carries the sanctity of
religious belief. It is a direct reflection of the social,
cultural and religious background at that time. Over
time, these buildings have undergone significant
stylistic evolution, and their artistic style and layout
characteristics have changed accordingly. The
research questions of this project focus on the
historical, cultural and religious motivations behind
these changes, and how they shaped the heritage of
Buddhist architecture as we see it today. This study is
conducive to the balance of historical and artistic
values in the process of restoration and conservation.
Through in-depth analysis, it can provide scientific
basis and practical guidance for the protection and
inheritance of these cultural heritage.
This study mainly starts from the Buddhist
architecture of the Tang Dynasty, and specifically
carries out its research, protection and inheritance.
Literature analysis is used to search and read relevant
materials and documents. The advantage of this
method is that it can well analyze the unique style of
architectural art of Tang Dynasty at the academic
level and provide examples for the study of Tang
Dynasty architecture. In terms of culture, it embodies
the integration of national cultures, helps to excavate
and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of
the Chinese nation, protects and inherits the Buddhist
architectural culture, and is conducive to the conduct
of research. The research issues cover the evolution
of architectural style layout, the integration of
sculpture and built environment, and the balance of
restoration and conservation values. Through a
variety of research methods, it is found that the
Buddhist architectural style of the Tang Dynasty
integrates multiple elements, the layout reflects
function and order, the interaction between sculpture
and architecture is good, and the restoration and
protection need comprehensive consideration. The
ultimate goal of this study is that the research program
of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty
provides methods and approaches for the in-depth
understanding and protection of these precious
cultural heritage (Hu, 1997).
2 CASE STUDY
Among the many Buddhist buildings in the Tang
Dynasty, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda reached its
peak in artistic expression (Tayhuadong and
Zhang, S.
A Study on the Historical Evolution of Artistic Style and Layout Characteristics of Buddhist Architecture in Tang Dynasty.
DOI: 10.5220/0013984000004912
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development (IESD 2025), pages 317-321
ISBN: 978-989-758-779-5
Proceedings Copyright © 2025 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.
317

Inkarojrit, 2024). Through the case of the Great Wild
Goose Pagoda, this paper discusses the historical
evolution of the style and layout characteristics of
Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty and its
important role in the spread of Buddhist culture (Lv
and Lv, 2012).
The historical evolution of the artistic style and
layout characteristics of Buddhist architecture in the
Tang Dynasty can be fully reflected in the landmark
building of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda (Lv and Lv,
2012). Located in Xi'an, Shanxi Province, the Great
Wild Goose Pagoda is the earliest and largest existing
brick pagoda of the four-sided pavilion style of the
Tang Dynasty (Pang, 2010). Its architectural style
integrates the characteristics of Han and foreign
nationalities, reflecting the integration of multi-ethnic
cultures (Pang, 2010). The design of the Great Wild
Goose Pagoda not only shows the exquisite
architectural technology of the Tang Dynasty in
structure but also reaches a peak in artistic expression
(Shi, 2018). The body of the tower is square, the
appearance is solemn and upright, and the cornice,
doors Windows and brick carvings of each layer are
exquisite, showing the exquisite craftsmanship of the
architectural art of the Tang Dynasty.
The reliefs and colors of the Great Wild Goose
Pagoda mainly show the stories and characters in the
Lotus Sutra and Avatamsaka Sutra. These decorations
not only beautify the pagoda but also convey the
profound and profound connotation of Buddhist
culture (Shi, 2014). This practice of integrating
Buddhist stories and culture into architectural art is an
important embodiment of the evolution of Buddhist
architectural style and layout characteristics in the
Tang Dynasty. It not only enhances the religious
significance of the building but also makes it an
important medium for the dissemination of Buddhist
culture.
2.1 Architectural Appearance
The reliefs on the stupa, the stone statues, and the
content of the scriptures all convey the meaning of
Buddhist wisdom and compassion so that people can
appreciate the profound connotation of Buddhism
while appreciating the art. At the same time,
decorative elements such as sculptures and murals in
temples and halls can create a strong Buddhist
atmosphere and enhance the religious experience of
believers. In the restoration and protection of
Buddhist buildings in the Tang Dynasty, a reasonable
selection of restoration techniques and materials and
emphasis on cultural preservation and inheritance can
achieve the balance between historical value and
artistic value. For example, in the protection and
inheritance of Tibetan Buddhist architectural culture,
the protection and restoration project of Palcho
Monastery carries out scientific analysis of the shape
characteristics, building materials, and building
structures of Palcho Monastery buildings, and retains
the historical information of its value to the maximum
extent in the process of protection and restoration, to
protect the authenticity and integrity of the temple.
The combination of Buddhist sculpture and
architectural environment in the Tang Dynasty
creates a unique religious atmosphere. For example,
the stone sculpture of the Kowloon bathing Buddha is
usually placed in the important places of the temple,
such as the Front gate and the front of the hall of
Mahavira Hall, with far-reaching implications, and
the details of each dragon are full of symbolic
significance.
2.2 Structure Layout
The Buddhist temple architecture in the early Tang
Dynasty was probably influenced more by the
Northern and Southern Dynasties. With the
Sinicization of Buddhism and the development of
social culture in the Tang Dynasty, the layout
centered on the pagoda gradually evolved into the
form of multiple courtyards with Buddhist halls as the
main (Zhang, 1993). This evolution reflected the
integration of Buddhism with traditional Chinese
culture, as well as the changing demand for Buddhist
architectural functions in Tang society.
In the architectural layout, the building structure
and the environment are integrated into each other,
becoming a symbol of religious ceremonies and
cultural inheritance. Buddhist buildings in the Tang
Dynasty usually have a clear central axis, and the
larger monasteries are arranged like corridors on both
sides of the main hall, and the main court and each
small court are surrounded by corridors. This layout
is convenient for worshippers to worship and
practice, reflecting the hierarchy and sense of order of
Buddhist architecture.
2.3 Restoration and Protection
The Buddhist architecture of the Tang Dynasty has
gone through thousands of years, and it is necessary
to balance the historical value and artistic value in the
process of restoration and protection. Take the
protection and restoration of local temple buildings
and architectural groups as an example. For example,
Liangping Shuanggui Tang in Chongqing, the
protection planning should comprehensively consider
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regional characteristics, cultural and historical
characteristics, architectural nature and other factors
to ensure that the authenticity of cultural relics and
monuments is not changed, while preserving their
historical integrity, and the complete historical
information left on the same cultural relics and
buildings in different periods of history is not
arbitrarily removed and altered.
In the restoration and protection of Buddhist
buildings in the Tang Dynasty, reasonable selection
of restoration techniques and materials and emphasis
on cultural preservation and inheritance can achieve
the balance between historical value and artistic
value.
3 SIGNIFICANCE OF
RESTORATION AND
PROTECTION OF BUDDHIST
BUILDINGS IN TANG
DYNASTY
3.1 Academic Significance
As a treasure of ancient Chinese architecture,
Buddhist architecture in Tang Dynasty provides a
new research perspective and method for related
disciplines. The construction of Buddhist architecture
in Tang Dynasty was widely distributed in time and
varied in forms, which reflected the development
process, construction skills and decoration techniques
of the architectural art in Tang Dynasty. For example,
the Buddhist buildings of the Tang Dynasty were
transformed from stone imitation wood to real wood
structures with square planes, showing superb
architectural techniques. The surface of the tower is
decorated with glazed tiles, painted, relief and other
decorative techniques, such as the relief and painted
of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda mainly show the
stories and characters in the The Lotus Sutra and
Avatamsaka Sutra, showing the profound and
profound connotation of Buddhist culture. At the
same time, the architectural style, relief and color
painting of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty
provide a valuable reference for the study of Tang
architecture (Zhang, 2018).
3.2 Cultural Significance
The Buddhist architecture of the Tang Dynasty
embodies the integration of national culture, helps to
excavate and carry forward the excellent traditional
culture of the Chinese nation, and protects and
inherits the Buddhist architectural culture (Zuo,
2017). Taking Guanzhong Buddhist brick Pagoda of
Tang Dynasty as an example, it integrates the artistic
elements of many nationalities, both the
characteristics of Han and the style of foreign
nationalities. For example, the Great Wild Goose
Pagoda adopts the "beam and column structure" and
"dougong system" of traditional Chinese architecture,
while combining the characteristics of foreign
architecture, more majestic.Another example is
Buddha Temple, which is oriented to the east and
west according to the mountain, and the building is
divided into three layers. Its unique layout and
architectural style also reflect the integration of multi-
ethnic cultures. In the Tang Dynasty, the pagodas in
Chang 'an City were widely distributed and
diversified in forms, which also reflected the
integration of national culture. The research and
protection of Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty can provide inspiration and enlightenment
for the creation of contemporary architectural art and
promote the development of cultural tourism
industry.
3.3 Practical Significance
Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty provided
scientific basis and practical guidance for the
protection and utilization of Buddhist architecture,
and promoted the development of cultural tourism
industry. For the restoration and protection of
Buddhist buildings in the Tang Dynasty, it is
necessary to choose restoration techniques and
materials reasonably and pay attention to cultural
preservation and inheritance. For example, in the
protection planning, regional characteristics, cultural
and historical characteristics, architectural nature and
other factors should be considered comprehensively
to ensure that the authenticity of cultural relics and
monuments is not changed, while preserving their
historical integrity. As an important tourism resource,
Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty can attract
tourists to visit, feel the charm of Buddhist
architecture in the Tang Dynasty, and promote the
development of cultural tourism industry.
4 DISCUSSION AND
SUGGESTION
Consult academic works, research papers and
professional reports at home and abroad on Buddhist
A Study on the Historical Evolution of Artistic Style and Layout Characteristics of Buddhist Architecture in Tang Dynasty
319

temple architecture, sculpture and restoration and
protection, and study Buddhist classics, historical
documents and local Chronicles. Through consulting
relevant academic works, research papers and
professional reports at home and abroad, we can
understand different scholars' research perspectives
and methods on Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty. For example, from the architectural art,
cultural connotation, historical value and other
aspects of in-depth discussion, to provide a rich
theoretical support for the study. At the same time, by
studying Buddhist classics, historical documents and
local Chronicles, we can understand the historical
background, religious significance and cultural
connotation of Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty. These documents may record the
construction process, architectural style, sculpture art
and other aspects of Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty, which provides an important basis for in-
depth study of Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty. Field research Conducted field visits to
Buddhist temple buildings in different historical
periods, recorded the status quo and characteristics of
temple buildings, observed the relationship between
sculptures and the built environment, and investigated
restoration and protection cases. Field investigation is
an important way to understand Buddhist architecture
in Tang Dynasty. A field study of Buddhist temple
architecture in different historical periods can give us
an intuitive sense of the scale, layout and artistic style
of Tang Buddhist architecture. By taking photos,
measuring and drawing, the present situation and
characteristics of the temple building are recorded,
including the structure, materials and decoration of
the building. By observing the relationship between
sculpture and the built environment, we can
understand the status and role of sculpture in
Buddhist architecture, and how sculpture and
architecture integrate with each other to create a
unique religious atmosphere. By investigating
restoration and protection cases, we can learn
advanced restoration techniques and protection
methods, and provide references for the protection of
Buddhist buildings in the Tang Dynasty. Case studies
Select representative Buddhist temple buildings and
sculptures for case studies and summarize lessons
learned from successful and failed cases. The
representative Buddhist buildings of Tang Dynasty,
such as the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Buddhist
Temple, silver coffin of Longquan Temple pagoda
and Xingguo Temple, were selected for case analysis.
An in-depth study of the artistic style, layout
characteristics and interaction of these buildings, and
a summary of their successes and shortcomings. For
example, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, as the earliest
and largest existing brick pagoda of the Tang
Dynasty, integrates the characteristics of Han and
foreign nationalities in its architectural style,
reflecting the integration of multi-ethnic cultures. The
buildings, sculptures, murals and inscriptions of
Buddhist Temple are known as the "four wonders",
which have high historical and cultural value.
Longquan Temple pagoda fund coffins and silver
coffins are well made, using relief, carving,
chiselling, gilding and other techniques, showing the
Tang Dynasty's superb production technology and
artistic level. the hall of the heavenly kings of
Xingguo Temple is a relic of Tang Dynasty, and the
Stone scripture building is a relic of Tang Dynasty,
which has high historical value. Through the analysis
of these cases, we can sum up the general laws and
characteristics of Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty, and provide references for further research.
Interviews with experts and scholars in related
fields, architects, heritage conservators and people in
the Buddhist community for exchange and
discussion. Interviews with experts and scholars in
related fields, architects, cultural relic conservators
and people in the Buddhist community can listen to
their views and suggestions on the art and function of
Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty, the
interaction between sculpture and the built
environment, and the restoration and protection of
buildings. In-depth exchanges and discussions with
experts can help you understand the problems and
challenges they encounter in their research and
practice, as well as the methods and ideas to solve
these problems. For example, experts may analyze
Tang Dynasty Buddhist architecture from the aspects
of architectural history, artistic aesthetics, religious
culture, etc., to provide new perspectives and
methods for research. At the same time, the expert's
advice can also provide scientific basis and practical
guidance for the protection and utilization of
Buddhist buildings in the Tang Dynasty.
A comparative study of Buddhist temple
architecture in different periods and regions,
comparing Chinese Buddhist sculpture with
international religious sculpture. A comparative study
of Buddhist temple architecture in different periods
and regions can reveal the development laws and
regional characteristics of Buddhist architecture in
the Tang Dynasty. For example, comparing the
Buddhist architecture of the Tang Dynasty with that
of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, one can
understand the evolution of Buddhist architecture in
terms of artistic style and layout characteristics. By
comparing the Buddhist architecture of the Tang
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Dynasty with that of Japan, Korea and other
countries, we can understand the influence of the
Buddhist architecture of the Tang Dynasty on
neighboring countries. By comparing Chinese
Buddhist sculpture with international religious
sculpture, we can analyze the characteristics and
differences in their interaction with the built
environment. For example, Chinese Buddhist
sculpture pays attention to the integration with
architecture, creating a strong religious atmosphere;
International religious sculpture may pay more
attention to individual expression and artistic value.
Through comparative study, we can broaden the
research horizon and provide more references for the
study of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty.
Data analysis Collates and analyzes the data obtained
from field research and case studies to draw
quantitative conclusions. Through sorting and
analyzing the data obtained from the field
investigation and case analysis, statistical methods
and data analysis software can be used to discuss the
art and function of Buddhist architecture in the Tang
Dynasty, the interaction between sculpture and the
built environment, and the restoration and protection
of architecture. Through data analysis, some
quantitative conclusions can be drawn to provide a
more objective and scientific basis for the research.
For example, through the analysis of the scale, layout,
decoration and other aspects of Buddhist architecture
in the Tang Dynasty, we can understand the artistic
characteristics and development trend of Buddhist
architecture in the Tang Dynasty. At the same time,
data analysis can also provide decision-making
support for the protection and utilization of Buddhist
buildings in the Tang Dynasty, and improve the effect
of protection and utilization.
5 CONCLUSION
As an important part of ancient Chinese architecture,
Buddhist architecture in Tang Dynasty has high
historical, artistic and cultural value. Through the
study of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty,
we can better understand the social history, culture
and art of the Tang Dynasty and the development of
Buddhism, and provide useful references for
protecting and inheriting the excellent traditional
culture of the Chinese nation. At the same time, it also
provides reference and inspiration for the
development of modern architectural art. The
Buddhist architecture of the Tang Dynasty showed its
unique charm in layout, structure, craft and style
integration. The obvious changes in the layout of the
central axis and the position of the pagoda reflect the
integration of Buddhism and traditional Chinese
culture and the changes of social culture. From the
stone imitation wood to the real wood structure, the
decorative art is rich and diverse, reflecting the superb
architectural technology and artistic level of the Tang
Dynasty. The integration of multi-ethnic cultures, the
inheritance and development of ancient architectural
traditions and the emphasis on the connotation of
Buddhist culture make the Buddhist architecture of
the Tang Dynasty an artistic treasure.
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