Chinese Pagodas

Chinese Pagodas

Chinese Pagodas (Chinese 塔, pinyin tǎ) are a traditional part of Chinese architecture, introduced from India along with Buddhism as protective structures for Buddhist relics. In addition to religious use, since ancient times Chinese pagodas have been praised for the spectacular views which they offer, and many famous poems in Chinese history attest to the joy of scaling pagodas.

Introduction of Chinese Pagodas

History

Kek Lok Si pagoda tiers labelled with their architectural styles. The origin of the pagoda can be traced to the stupa (3rd century BCE). he stupa, a dome-shaped monument, was used as a commemorative monument associated with storing sacred relics. In East Asia, the architecture of Chinese towers and Chinese pavilions blended into pagoda architecture, eventually also spreading to Southeast Asia. The pagoda’s original purpose was to house relics and sacred writings. This purpose was popularized due to the efforts of Buddhist missionaries, pilgrims, rulers, and ordinary devotees to seek out, distribute, and extol Buddhist relics.

On the other side, the stupa emerged as a distinctive style of Newa architecture of Nepal and was adopted in Southeast and East Asia. Nepali architect Araniko visited China and shared his skills to build stupa buildings in China.

These buildings (pagoda, stupa) became prominent as Buddhist monuments used for enshrining sacred relics.

The Origin of the Pagoda

While you may have seen Chinese architecture and would assume that Chinese pagodas might follow that style, you would only be partly correct. Chinese pagodas are much more architecturally diverse than one might guess. Seeing two of them, you might think they were altogether different types of buildings.

The history of the Chinese pagoda actually begins in ancient India with the death of the Buddha in the 5th century BCE. At this time, stupas were beginning construction to house the holy artifacts of the Buddha’s body. These dome-shaped, stone structures were built throughout India, and as Buddhism spread, so did these ceremonial buildings which came to symbolize the growing popularity of the religion.

It was the stupa that eventually became the tiered tower with many roofs that we think of today. Since it was a new building type in China, a new Chinese character was created, ta, which means Buddhist tower or pagoda.

Symbolism

Chinese iconography is noticeable in Chinese pagoda as well as other East Asian pagoda architectures. The image of Gautama Buddha in the Abhaya mudrā is also noticeable in some Pagodas. Buddhist iconography can be observed throughout the pagoda symbolism.

In an article on Buddhist elements in Han dynasty art, Wu Hung suggests that in these tombs, Buddhist symbolism was so well-incorporated into native Chinese traditions that a unique system of symbolism had been developed.

Architecture

Pagodas attract lightning strikes because of their height. Many pagodas have a decorated finial at the top of the structure, and when made of metal, this finial, sometimes referred to as a “demon-arrester”, can function as a lightning rod. Also, Pagodas come in many different sizes, as some may be small and others may be large.

Styles of eras

Han Dynasty

Examples of Han Dynasty era tower architecture predating Buddhist influence and the full-fledged Chinese pagoda can be seen in the four pictures below. Michael Loewe writes that during the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) period, multi-storied towers were erected for religious purposes, as astronomical observatories, as watchtowers, or as ornate buildings that were believed to attract the favor of spirits, deities, and immortals.

Sui and Tang

Pagodas built during the Sui and Tang Dynasty usually had a square base, with a few exceptions such as the Daqin Pagoda.

Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan

Pagodas of the Five Dynasties, Northern and Southern Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties incorporated many new styles, with a greater emphasis on hexagonal and octagonal bases for pagodas.