Tang Buddhist Tradition and Funeral Culture at Famen Temple’s Pagoda Crypt

Abstract

Famen Temple, a Buddhist pagoda located in Fufeng County, China, has been a site of religious mystery and historical allure for the past few generations of modern scholars since the rediscovery of its underground crypt in 1987. The reasons for its scholarly appeal have revealed themselves in a range of aspects, and the exciting circumstances of its discovery are perhaps second only to the fascinating relics found sealed away within the crypt. The underground chamber beneath Famen Temple has long been called a "crypt" by modern scholars, however, many haven't considered the full extent to which the crypt can truly be considered a tomb by the standards of the Tang dynasty, during which Famen Temple enjoyed immense popularity and attention from the imperial court. The crypt can be perceived as a tomb from three aspects: the underground portion’s tomblike architectural qualities and spatial organization, the purpose of the pagoda above the crypt being similar to that of a tomb marker, and the treatment of the relics as venerated bodily remains by the Tang court.