Drum tower (Chinese Buddhism)

The drum tower is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples.^[1] Together with a bell tower, they are usually placed on both sides of the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings.^[1] It is usually located on the right side while the bell tower is usually located on the left side.^[1] Generally, it is a three-storey pavilion with a big drum placed on it.^[1] When it is beaten, it sounds grandly and loudly.^[1] Buddhist temples set times to beat the drums to inform the time and also wake people up.^[1][2][3]

Drum tower in Laos

Drum tower
The Drum tower at Shishuang Temple, in Liuyang, Hunan, China.
Traditional Chinese	鼓樓
Simplified Chinese	鼓楼
Literal meaning	Drum tower
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Gǔlóu

They are found in China and other countries of the region.

References

1. Zi Yan 2012, p. 34.
2. Wei Ran (2012-06-01). Buddhist Buildings. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press. ISBN 9787112142880.
3. Han Xin (2006-04-01). Well-Known Temples of China. Shanghai: The Eastern Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 7506024772.

Bibliography

• Zi Yan (2012). "Xiantong Temple in Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province". Famous Temples in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-3146-7.
• Wang Jia (2012). "Mount Wutai: Xiantong Temple". Famous Mountains in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-2704-0.

Further reading

• Wang Guixiang (2016-06-17). 《中国汉传佛教建筑史——佛寺的建造、分布与寺院格局、建筑类型及其变迁》 [The History of Chinese Buddhist Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press. ISBN 9787302427056.
• Zhang Yuhuan (2014-06-01). 《图解中国佛教建筑、寺院系列》 [Illustration of Chinese Buddhist Architecture and Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN 9787515401188.