IN recent years, the number of lay Buddhists has been growing, there is an increasing interest in meditation practice and Buddhist retreats among the general public.  Given such position (trend), Buddhist monasteries have begun to provide desirable space for the lay followers.

A wide variety of Buddhist architecture has appeared in different Buddhist regions in different periods, reflecting how Buddhism has been adapted to and amalgamated with various cultures encountered.  Despite such plurality in its style and form, indeed the essence of Buddhist monasteries remains to be the Vihara (the enclosed space for individual meditation) and Chaitya (the space for group ceremonies and meditation)