Stupas and Pagodas

2)The Tower Pagota

This is the most common type of pagodas seen in China,which visitors may climb up for a brid'seye view of the surrounding country.

The world-famous Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian Country , Shanxi Province ,is a typical tower-like pagoda.Built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty, it is the tallest and oldest of its kind the country.Standing on a two-tiered stone terrace and true to its name ,the structure,67.13 meters tall and 30 meters across at the bottom ,is all wood.

The ground storey has double eaves, so the 5-storeyed octangonal building has altogether 6 eaves .The interior of the pagoda consists of nine floors ,with four of them hidden from outside view.

Structurally , the pagoda was erected by stages with separate sets of comlumns ,beams and purlins in between every two storeys .Joining these together are dougong brackets of 50-60 kinds ,which hold the huge wooden structure together in an integral piece , strong and magnificent ,without the help of a single piece of metal .Visitors can scale the pagoda by the wooden stair inside ,which lead up to the top floor.

It is estimated that more than 3,500 cubic meters (about 3,000 tons ) of timber must have been used to build the pagoda.

The 900-year-old Wooden Pagoda,during its long life ,has been weathered by the elements ,shelled on by warlords' firearms ,and shaken by strong earthquakes .Though slightly … ,it still stands majestic today ---an architectural marvel not only for China but for the whole world.

3)The Diamond Throne Pagodas

This type of religious architecture has its origin in India and is not often seen in of pagodas in Beijing's Zhenjuesi Temple ,popularly known as Wutasi (the Five-Pagoda Temple ) because of them ,and another group of Sarira-Stupas on a diamongd –throne in Huhhot ,Inner Mongolia.

This type of pagodas have the common feature: five smaller pagodas Beijing built on a high and solid square base called the “diamond throne” .The arrangement of the five pagodas,as for instance those in Beijing ,is one at the center and one each at the four corners of the base ,dedicated to the Buddhas of all quarters .The lower parts of the pagodas and the sides of the diamond-throne are carved with bas-relief images of Buddaha, considered to be of high artistic value.

Recorded history tells us that, early in the Yongle regn (1403 - 1423) of the Ming Dynasty, a venerable monk namedbandida came from India to Beijing and presented to the Emperor five fold statures of Buddha and a plan for a diamond – throne. The emperor bestowed on him the title of “National Master” and ordered a temple with pagodasto be built according to his plan.

The resultant structure was basically after the Indian design , with some Chinese modifications .The base was enlarged to be 1.78meters high ,while the five pagodas were reduced to about 6 meters tall. Furthermore ,a Chinese pavilion of glazed tiles with a round roof and double eaves was erected in the midst of the pagodas on the platform base .it became an Indian religious structure with pronounced Chinese features –an early example of the happy integration of Chinese and Indian art.