In every Buddhist monastery, regardless of its size, a Main Shrine (Great Hero Shrine) is a building that cannot be excluded. It is the main shrine of a monastery which enshrines Buddha statues, and provides a place for monastics to perform their morning and evening chanting services, as well as for laypeople to pay respect to the Buddha, recite sutras and attend a Dharma Service.

“Great Hero” is one of the epithets of the Buddha. The name derives from the great power of wisdom which the Buddha possessed in which such power can subdue evil obstacles. Generally, Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is the main statue in a monastery’s main statue. However, some monasteries enshrine the Triratna Buddhas, that is, Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha in addition to Sakyamuni Buddha; or the Sakyamuni Buddha with Mahakasyapa and Ananda on either side who symbolize the equal emphasis on understanding and practice. Some may enshrine the Avatamsaka Triad- Vairocana Buddha, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva; or the Amitabha Triad- Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva; as well as the eighteen Arhats, the Twelve Yaksa, the Eight Vajras, and so forth. Although different kinds of materials are used to make the Buddha statues such as by wood carving, bronze casting, pottery sculpturing, painting, jade carving, or even by cement or glass fiber, to Buddhists, the meaning and value of these statues are the same in that they all represent a Buddha that symbolizes faith, not a superficial idol.







Main Shrine （Great Hero Shrine）

：大殿（大雄寶殿）

Great power of wisdom：大智力

Evil obstacles：魔障

Triratna Buddhas：三寶佛

Avatamsaka Triad：華嚴三聖

Vairocana Buddha：毘廬遮那佛

Amitabha Triad：西方三聖

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva

：大勢至菩薩

Eighteen Arhats：十八羅漢

Twelve Yaksas：十二藥叉

Eight Vajras：八大金剛