Note: A new section is evolving to replace this one.  Additions to that section are noted below with a "see also" link.

In Buddhism, temples are dedicated to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; in folk devotion, to individuals (often historical) who have been raised to the status of gods.  (Even Mao Zedong comes in for veneration; although the Lonely Planet China guide rather snidely lists "Maoist Pilgrimage Spots" in Changsha, Hunan province, the fact is that despite efforts to stop it, the worship of Mao is on the rise.)

So here is a list of some of the figures encountered in temples, Buddhist and otherwise.  It is an adjunct to my temple visits--helping to avoid duplication on those pages--but it can also be read as a resource in itself.

• Ajita, Arhat (also called "Asita") (image)

• Alohan: see Arhats, the Eighteen

• Amitabha/Amitayus (image)

• Amitofo: see Amitabha/Amitayus

• Angaja, Arhat (also called "Angida")(image)

• Angida: see Angaja

• Arhats, the Eighteen (image)

• Arhats, the Sixteen  (Tibet)

  • More: The Arhats' Place in Buddhism

• Asita: see Ajita

• Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of the Great Compassion (see also Kuan Yin) (image)

• Bhadra, Arhat (also called "Bodhidruma") (image)

• Bhaishajyaguru Buddha: see Medicine Buddha

• Bodhidruma: see Bhadra

• Bodhisattvas (image) 

  • More on Bodhisattvas

• Buddhas (image)

• Chien Lun: see Kuan Ti, Temple Guardian

• Cudapanthaka, Arhat

• Dhrtarastra (Mo-Li Ching), Heavenly King (image) 

• Di Cang, Bodhisattva: see Ksitigarbha 

• Dragon Emperors of the Seas

• Dragon-Subduing Arhat (sometimes Mahakassapa, sometimes Nantimitolo) (image)

• Eighteen Arhats: see Arhats, the Eighteen

• Heavenly Kings, The Four (image) 

• Gobaka: see Jivaka

• Guan Yin: see Kuan Yin

• Jivaka, Arhat (image)

• Kalika, Arhat (image)

• Kanakabharavaja, Arhat (image)

• Kanakavatsa, Arhat (image)

• Ksitigarbha, Bodhisattva (image)

  • More on Ksitigarbha

• Kuan Ti (Kuan Yu, Chien Lun, Sangharama), Temple Guardian (image) (see also)

• Kuan Yin Bodhisattva (see also Avalokitesvara) (image) 

• How Kuan Yin Attained Her 1000 Arms

  • More on Kuan Yin

• Laughing Buddha: see Maitreya

• Lohan: see Arhats, the Eighteen

• Lung Nu, Attendant on Kuan Yin (image)

• Mahakassapa, Dragon-Subduing Arhat (sometimes Mahakassapa, sometimes Nantimitolo) (image)

• Maitreya, Tiger-Subduing Arhat (image)

• Maitreya, Bodhisattva (image) 

  • More on Maitreya

• Manjusri, Bodhisattva (image)

  • More on Manjusri

• Medicine Buddha, The (image)

• Mi-le-fo: see Maitreya

• Mo-Li Ching: see Dhrtarastra, Heavenly King

• Mo-Li Hai: see Virupaksa, Heavenly King

• Mo-Li Hung: see Virudhaka, Heavenly King

• Mo-Li Shou: see Vaisravana, Heavenly King

• Nagasena, Arhat (image)

• Nakula, Arhat (image)

• Nandimitra: see Subinda

• Omitofo: see Amitabha/Amitayus

• Panthaka, Arhat (also called "Pantha the Elder") (image)

• Pantha the Elder: see Panthaka

• Pantha the Younger: see Cudapanthaka

• Pindola, Tiger-Subduing Arhat (image)

• Pu Hsien, Bodhisattva: see Samanthabhadra

• Rahula, Arhat (image)

• Sangharama: see Kuan Ti

• Samantabhadra, Bodhisattva (image)

• Shakyamuni Buddha (The Buddha Image)

• Shan Ts'ai, Attendant on Kuan Yin (image)

• Skanda: see Wei-Tuo

• Si-Ta-Tien-Wang: see Heavenly Kings, The Four

• Smiling Buddha: see Maitreya

• Subinda, Arhat (also called "Nandimitra") (image)

• Tiger-Subduing Arhat (sometimes Maitreya, sometimes another Pindola) (image)

• Ti Tsang, Bodhisattva: see Ksitigarbha 

• Vaisravana (Mo-Li Shou), Heavenly King (image)

• Vajraputra, Arhat (image)

• Vanavasin, Arhat (image)

• Virudhaka (Mo-Li Hung), Heavenly King (image)

• Virupaksa (Mo-Li Hai), Heavenly King (image)

• Wei Tuo, (Skanda), Temple Guardian (image)

• Wen Shu, Bodhisattva: see Manjusri

• Yao Shih Fo: see Medicine Buddha

Tip: Go to the Buddhanet e-books page  page to download the volume "Popular Deities in Chinese Buddhism." You will need Winzip to unzip it, and Adobe Acrobat to read it; both are available at the top of the e-books page.