The Connection between Buddhist Temples, the Landscape, and Monarchical Power: A Comparison between Tuoba Hong (471–499) from the Northern Wei Dynasty and Li Shimin (626–649) from the Tang Dynasty

Since the Western Jin period, Buddhism has confronted bureaucratic power within architectural landscape. In this study, historical records and archaeological reports of two Buddhist temples—the Siyuan Temple 思遠佛寺 built during reign Tuoba Hong 拓跋宏 Emperor Xiaowen 孝文帝 Northern Wei dynasty, Zhaoren 昭仁寺, Li Shimin 李世民 Taizong 唐太宗 Tang dynasty—were examined. A comparison was made temples’ geographic locations in relation to cities while considering period-specific phenomena. This study also considers mountains, water, topographical features. The information reflects differences ideas ruling class monarchs periods. findings are that both temples were close capital emperors demonstrated supremacy their by building them. Therefore, religious landscape owes its formation, development, underlying significance social groups.