Aim WALT describe and use the elements of

Aim WALT describe and use the elements of a Buddhist temple Success WIN Criteria • Statement I can discuss 1 Lorem the similarities ipsum dolor and sitdifferences amet, consectetur between adipiscing some Buddhist elit. temples. • Statement 2 • I can identify how the elements are represented in the shape of a • Sub statement Buddhist temple. • I can draw and label my own Buddhist temple design. • I know how the five elements are represented in my design.

A Special Person Do you know who this is? This person is very special to Buddhists. It is Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama. He lived some time around 500 BCE. He only became known as the Buddha after he had found enlightenment. Enlightenment means he found the truth about life. Photo courtesy of Akuppa (@flickr. com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

A Special Person Buddhists do not believe in God. Buddha is a very special person to Buddhists but he was a person and not a god. Every Buddhist temple has at least one statue or image of Buddha. Buddhists thank Buddha for his teachings. They show him great respect. They do not pray to Buddha in the same way that other people might pray to God.

Looking at Buddhist Temples Buddhist temples vary in how they look from the outside.

Looking at Buddhist Temples One type of important Buddhist building is a stupa. Stupas are shaped like bells. Something very old and special that belonged to Buddha, such as a strand of his hair or one of his teeth, will be buried beneath the stupa.

Looking at Buddhist Temples Some Buddhist temples are pagodas. Pagodas are based on the design of stupas but they have rows of towers going upwards.

The Five Elements Buddhists believe that the universe is made up of five main things. These are called the five elements. ? Have you any idea what some of these elements that make up the universe might be? Buddhists believe the five elements are… Air Earth Fire Wisdom Water

The Five Elements Buddhist temples are designed to symbolise the five elements. Earth Wisdom The earth is Wisdom is represented symbolised by the square base pinnacle at of the temple. the very top. Fire Air Water The spire represents fire. The crescent of a temple represents air. The dome represents water.

The Five Elements pinnacle (wisdom) crescent (air) spire (fire) dome (water) square base (earth) Photo courtesy of chriscom (@flickr. com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Design Your Own Buddhist Temple You have seen beautiful Buddhist temples from around the world and now you know how the five elements are represented in a Buddhist temple. Now, Design Your Own Buddhist Temple