A Study of the Temporal and Geographical Characteristics of Chinese Buddhist Temples with Maitreya as the Theme

As an important element of early Buddhist culture, Maitreya had a significant impact on the evolution of Chinese Buddhist architectural forms. This paper combs and categorises the Buddhist temples directly related to Maitreya as objects of study. Utilizing statistical and archaeological methods, this study systematically examines temple chronicles, county gazetteers, and related historical documents. Through data analysis, it investigates the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of Buddhist temples to construct a chronological and geographical framework for Maitreya-themed temples.