Based on the motives of the temples' construction and architectural characteristics that are delineated for every period during the early and middle Qing Dynasty, this dissertation explores the multiple natures of the temples which are revealed from the patronage pattern, such as the political concern, praying for blessing, the reproduction of cultural sign and landscape, etc. Furthermore, this dissertation tries to clarify the scope, contexts and expressive modes of the temples and how these are transformed over the first 150 years of the Qing regime. At the same time, this dissertation also discusses the multiple social factors which might have influenced the construction and architectural characteristics. / The Qing monarchs from Nurhachi till Emperor Qianlong decreed many Tibetan Buddhist temples in central China. The construction of these temples can be regarded as one of the most significant architectural projects initiated by the emperors of the early and middle Qing Dynasty. These temples played a significant role in the Qing regime's effort to increase its power, stabilize the frontiers and enlarge the territory of the Qing Empire. In some cases, the temples also held a rich personal meaning for the Qing monarchs. This dissertation is a detailed investigation and multifaceted discussion of these temples, with focusing on their patronage, meaning and architectural characteristics, including temple layout and building form. / This study is the first extensive investigation and analysis of all of the early and middle Qing Tibetan Buddhist temples in central China decreed by the Qing monarchs. It may provide a basis for the future studies of the Qing Tibetan Buddhist temples in both the data collected and presented here and the analysis and discussion. With a presentation of the temples' characteristics and meanings, a discussion of their developments, and an exploration of the rules underlying such developments, this study's effort for an in-depth understanding of the temples might enrich the architectural research of the Qing Dynasty. Moreover, the exploration and discussion of the interaction between the evolving social factors and the development of the characteristics and meanings of the temples may contribute to the study of the architecture hermeneutics and societal influence on architectural form by providing a case study.
