Baitai Monastery, back great hall  白臺寺後大殿

Building Information

The back great hall (後大殿) of Baitai Monastery was rebuilt during the 11th year of Yuan Zhiyuan reign period (1274). The brick podium is 0.33 meters high. The front façade is 5-bays wide with a depth of 6 rafters. The single eaves, gable roof has a main ridge made of carved brick (砖雕). The roof frame is formed by a four-rafter beam facing a posterior rufu tie-beam with three columns in cross-section supported by upturned basin column bases. Under the eaves are five-layer bracket sets with double huagong (petal/blossom bracket arms). There are no intercolumnar bracket sets. A partition door is hung on the central bay under the front eaves. The square lattice windows in the secondary bays were later additions. In the middle of the Buddhist altar of this hall, there is a seated Śākyamuni on lotus dias, with bodhisattvas and attendants flanked on both sides. These sculptures emulate the Tang style. The hall faces onto a sizable moon-platform the center of which holds a Tang-style pagoda shaped inscribed pillar, four Song-style octagonal dhārāṇi pillar at the four corners, and a Song-style iron cloud frame plaque.1