Pagodas mainly consist of an underground palace, base, body, and steeple. The underground palace was also called the dragon palace or the dragon cave. A stone container which was made up of gold, stone, silver, and jade was one of the most important objects inside the palace.
What is a pagoda made of?
· Pagoda, a towerlike, multistory, solid or hollow structure made of stone, brick, or wood, usually associated with a Buddhist temple complex and therefore usually found in East and Southeast Asia, where Buddhism was long the prevailing religion.
What is inside of a Japanese pagoda shrine?
Basically according to my understanding the Japanese pagoda are more of an art to show the basic Buddhism 5th elements. Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Sky or Non from the levels beneath to the top. (Translation or interpretation may differ.) What’s inside? I searched quite a few Japanese pagoda, but it seems there is nothing inside of it.
Where are the pagodas placed?
pagoda, a towerlike, multistory, solid or hollow structure made of stone, brick, or wood, usually associated with a Buddhist temple complex and therefore usually found in East and Southeast Asia, where Buddhism was long the prevailing religion. Fogong Temple: timber pagoda.
What was held inside the pagoda?
This enclosure, which was sometimes decorated with murals, held a container in which relics and funerary objects had been placed. The container holding the sacred objects was usually placed within one or even several larger containers.
What are the parts of a pagoda?
A pagoda is composed of the following major parts:Underground Palace. Most ancient buildings in China were built on solid ground. ... Base. The base, on top of the underground palace, supports the whole superstructure. ... Body. The body, or main part, of a pagoda varies depending on the style of architecture. ... Steeple.
What is the thing on top of a pagoda?
The sōrin (相輪, lit. alternate rings) is the vertical shaft (finial) which tops a Japanese pagoda, whether made of stone or wood. The sōrin of a wooden pagoda is usually made of bronze and can be over 10 meters tall.
Can you go inside a Japanese pagoda?
Not only Ninna-ji, Pagoda(the five-storied tower) can neither climb nor enter. This is similar to Pagoda of any temple in Japan. over a year ago.
Do pagodas have floors?
Extant wood pagodas with more than two storeys have almost always either three stories (and are therefore called sanjū-no-tō (三重塔, lit. three-storeyed pagoda)) or five (and are called gojū-no-tō (五重塔, lit. five-storeyed pagoda).
How are pagodas built?
Typical pagodas are multistoried towers built of stone or brick with layers of overhanging roofs that curve up like a cornice into sharp, pointed ends. These pagodas were often built in the courtyard of a traditional Buddhist temple and, especially in India, have a religious function of housing sacred relics.
How do pagodas work?
The pagodas of the far east often have a central pillar / shinbashira built into the center of the structure. These pillars, like the spine of the human body, can bend to absorb the natural forces acting upon building (strong wind & earthquakes).
How many floors does a pagoda have?
five levelsGenerally, they have five levels which represent the elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and space.
What is the difference between pagoda and pergola?
Both are structures designed to provide shading in outdoor areas. The main difference is that pergodas feature a solid roof made up of slats, whereas pergolas feature a sliding or louvred roof for greater versatility. Pagodas are Asian in origin and feature a striking tiered tower design with multiple eaves.
Can you live in a pagoda?
Ouem Vanna says that living at a pagoda means one has to adhere to its internal rules, including being out no later than 9pm. That deadline is not flexible, as at that time, the monks lock the gates of the pagoda for the security of the students.
Why is it called a pagoda?
Named after the shape of its roof. Because the Coupé roof, designed by Paul Bracq, is reminiscent of the curved roofs of Far Eastern temples it didn't take long for the new SL to receive the nickname “Pagoda”.
History of Pagodas
Pagodas originated from popular 3rd century BCE stupas that acted as commemorative monuments. These monuments were used for safe keeping of religious relics. In East Asia, pagodas were inspired by the architecture used to build the Chinese pavilions and towers.
The Basic Structure of Pagodas
Pagodas mainly consist of an underground palace, base, body, and steeple. The underground palace was also called the dragon palace or the dragon cave. A stone container which was made up of gold, stone, silver, and jade was one of the most important objects inside the palace. It was used to keep the Buddhist scripture and statues of Buddha.
Examples of Notable Pagodas
An example of a known pagoda is the Xumi pagoda which is a nine-story structure found within the Hebei province in China. The uppermost part of the pagoda is made of a crowning spire. The building is hollow and lacks a staircase for accessing the topmost floors.
Etymology
One proposed etymology is from a South Chinese pronunciation of the term for an eight-cornered tower, Chinese: 八角塔, and reinforced by the name of a famous pagoda encountered by many early European visitors to China, the "Pázhōu tǎ" ( Chinese: 琶洲塔 ), standing just south of Guangzhou at Whampoa Anchorage.
History
The origin of the pagoda can be traced to the stupa (3rd century BCE). The stupa, a dome shaped monument, was used as a commemorative monument to house sacred relics and writings. In East Asia, the architecture of Chinese towers and Chinese pavilions blended into pagoda architecture, eventually also spreading to Southeast Asia.
Architecture
Pagodas come in many different sizes, with taller ones often attracting lightning strikes, inspiring a tradition that the finial decoration of the top of the structure can invoke demons. Today many pagodas have been fitted with wires making the finial into a lightning rod.
Construction materials
The 40-metre-tall (130 ft) Songyue Pagoda of 523 AD, the oldest existent stone pagoda in China.
De-emphasis over time
Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai follows the Song Dynasty multi-courtyard design, and does not feature a pagoda. The main hall is at the center.
Styles of eras
Examples of Han Dynasty era tower architecture predating Buddhist influence and the full-fledged Chinese pagoda can be seen in the four pictures below.
History
Japan's oldest three-storeyed pagoda at Hokki-ji, Ikaruga, Nara Pref. It was built in 706.
Stone pagodas
Stone pagodas ( sekitō) are usually made of materials like apatite or granite, are much smaller than wooden ones and are finely carved. Often they bear sanskrit inscriptions, Buddhist figurines and Japanese lunar calendar dates nengō.
Wooden pagodas
Wooden tasōtō are pagodas with an odd number of stories. Some may appear to have an even number because of the presence between stories of purely decorative enclosed pent roofs called mokoshi A famous example is Yakushi-ji 's eastern pagoda (see photo to the left), which seems to have six stories but has in fact only three.
Gallery of pagodas in Japan
Ichijō-ji 's sanjū-no-tō (three storied pagoda). It was built in 1171.
The Origin of Pagodas
Have you ever been to a Japanese garden and wondered about the tall structure with many roofs? What is the significance of so many roofs? And more importantly, what is the building's function?
Pagodas in Japan
While Japanese pagodas were modeled after the Chinese ones, several differences emerged over time. In Japan, pagodas are almost all constructed out of wood. Due to this, they are able to withstand earthquakes, but are extremely susceptible to fire.
Pagoda Architecture
The base of a pagoda is square, and each level contains 12 pillars that support the level above. Each successive floor is smaller than the one below it and supported by a horizontal plane. This plane is held up by beams that extend past the roof line.
Meaning and Function
The pagoda's symbolic meaning, function, and role within the context of a temple has changed over time. Many pagodas in Japan have five roofs or levels each symbolizing one of the great elements of earth (lowest level), water, fire, wind, and space (or void, top level).
Why Is The Pagoda So Important in Chinese Culture?
Before the modern era, the Chinese Pagoda was tightly related to Buddhism. In China today, you’ll see Pagodas within many monastery complexes of especially the larger Buddhist temples. However, as time goes, the Pagoda is now more widely regarded as a cultural thing rather than religious/spiritual.
What Does The Pagoda Symbolize?
As discussed, Pagoda used to be a strong symbol for Buddhism in China.
What Were The Pagodas Used For?
When the first Pagodas were built and introduced into the Chinese culture, they played a significant role and actually had a specific function: a tomb.
Chinese VS Japanese Pagodas
As we know, Pagodas also exist in Japan. Which one is the original one? The answer is not as easy as black and white.
How Was The Pagoda Built?
Before we can discuss how the Pagoda was built we should discuss its structure.
Can You Live In a Pagoda?
Not all Pagodas are available for guests to stay in, and typically those that permit guests will limit the time these guests are allowed to stay. You can stay for a set amount of time for meditation and praying purposes in certain Pagodas, but it is not permissible to stay overnight in most Pagodas.
Wen Chang Pagoda: The Chinese Pagoda in Feng Shui
In Feng Shui, a Pagoda-shaped charm is considered one of the most important cures, known as Wen Chang Pagoda or can be translated as “Education Tower”. Feng Shui practitioners believe that the Wen Chang Pagoda can be used for converting negative Chi that dwells in one place into a positive Chi.

History of Pagodas
The Basic Structure of Pagodas
- Pagodas mainly consist of an underground palace, base, body, and steeple. The underground palace was also called the dragon palace or the dragon cave. A stone container which was made up of gold, stone, silver, and jade was one of the most important objects inside the palace. It was used to keep the Buddhist scripture and statues of Buddha. On the ...
Examples of Notable Pagodas
- An example of a known pagoda is the Xumi pagoda which is a nine-story structure found within the Hebei province in China. The uppermost part of the pagoda is made of a crowning spire. The building is hollow and lacks a staircase for accessing the topmost floors. Xumi pagoda was constructed in 636 AD under the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. The building is …
Overview
A pagoda is an Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taoist, and were often located in or near viharas. The pagoda traces its origins to the stupa of ancient India.
Etymology
One proposed etymology is from a South Chinese pronunciation of the term for an eight-cornered tower, Chinese: 八角塔, and reinforced by the name of a famous pagoda encountered by many early European visitors to China, the "Pázhōu tǎ" (Chinese: 琶洲塔), standing just south of Guangzhou at Whampoa Anchorage. Another proposed etymology is Persian butkada, from but, "idol" and kada, "temple, dwelling."
History
The origin of the pagoda can be traced to the stupa (3rd century BCE). The stupa, a dome shaped monument, was used as a commemorative monument to house sacred relics and writings. In East Asia, the architecture of Chinese towers and Chinese pavilions blended into pagoda architecture, eventually also spreading to Southeast Asia. Their construction was popularized by the efforts of Buddhist …
Symbolism and geomancy
Chinese iconography is noticeable in Chinese and other East Asian pagoda architectures. Also prominent is Buddhist iconography such as the image of the Shakyamuni and Gautama Buddha in the abhaya mudra. In an article on Buddhist elements in Han dynasty art, Wu Hung suggests that in these temples, Buddhist symbolismwas fused with native Chinese traditions into a unique system of sy…
Architecture
Pagodas come in many different sizes, with taller ones often attracting lightning strikes, inspiring a tradition that the finial decoration of the top of the structure can invoke demons. Today many pagodas have been fitted with wires making the finial into a lightning rod.
Wooden pagodas possess certain characteristics thought to resist earthquake damage. These include the friction damping and sliding effect of the complex wooden dougongjoints, the structu…
Construction materials
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties pagodas were mostly built of wood, as were other ancient Chinese structures. Wooden pagodas are resistant to earthquakes, and no Japanese pagoda has been destroyed by an earthquake, but they are prone to fire, natural rot, and insect infestation.
Examples of wooden pagodas:
De-emphasis over time
Pagodas, in keeping with the tradition of the White Horse Temple, were generally placed in the center of temples until the Sui and Tang dynasties. During the Tang, the importance of the main hall was elevated and the pagoda was moved beside the hall, or out of the temple compound altogether. In the early Tang, Daoxuan wrote a Standard Design for Buddhist Temple Constructionin which the main h…
Styles of eras
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.