The right is the protection of the world of buddhas, the active pole, the metaphysical plane. With such weighty associations, the placement of one's hands takes on tremendous implications. Tan-chong is the traditional painting style for temple decoration. These elaborate and colorful paintings cling to eaves and ceilings, drape pillars and hug corners. As you move through a temple, you'll begin to notice recurring symbols.
Lotus blossoms are everywhere.
You may find yourself stepping from one fully expanded lotus to the next, as a cursory glance downward reveals this motif beneath your feet on courtyard tiles. If you tip your eyes heavenward to the elaborately decorated ceiling, you will almost certainly find a pattern of lotus blossoms intermingled with sanskrit characters and other symbols. The beauty of the Buddha image is thought to be present in the lotus flower. The fully expanded lotus looks like a wheel, a symbol of the soul. This is a universal device for pinning the center, where all things appear in perfect simultaneity, freed from the bondage of chronology - where past, present and future are united in a single moment.