Eastern and Western Pagodas

The Eastern and Western Pagodas of Kunming (东寺塔与西寺塔; Local Name: Xisi Ta / Dongsi Ta), are located in the south of the city comprised of two pagodas rising up in close proximity to one another. The Pagoda of the West Temple (Xisi Ta) and the Pagoda of the East Temple (Dongsi Ta), both date from the Tang period (618-907) and both have been faithfully rebuilt in 1901 after the Muslim uprising of 1868.

History

In 1901, Kunming - then known as Yunnan-fu (云南府) - was the established center of power for Yunnan which was part of the sphere of influence of the waning Qing Dynasty.

But Kunming had not always been a part of the Chinese empire though, as is evidenced by the presence of these two Bai-style pagodas built when the city was called Tuodong (拓东) and was not administered by Han Chinese, but by the Bai and Yi kingdom known as Nanzhao (南诏国). The pagodas are some of the oldest standing structures in Kunming.

While China was flourishing under the Tang Dynasty (618-907) the Nanzhao Kingdom emerged as a major regional force for a relatively short time, during which it controlled all of Yunnan. From defeating the Tang army at Xiaguan in 751 until its conquest of Chengdu in 829, the Nanzhao Kingdom experienced nearly 80 years of rapid expansion, resulting in a kingdom that ruled all of Yunnan, most of Sichuan and much of northern Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

During this time, the Nanzhao Kingdom built the Eastern and Western Pagodas in an area south of Kunming's city wall. The pagodas were positioned in a way that mirrored the Dade Temple Twin Pagodas (大德寺双塔), which were within the city wall and are still standing today. The Twin Pagodas are hidden in a small alley one kilometer to the north between Huashan Dong Lu and Qingnian Lu.

The Eastern and Western Pagodas were both constructed more than 11 centuries ago. A great earthquake during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) toppled the Eastern Pagoda, which was rebuilt shortly afterward. Thus, the Western Pagoda is in actuality several centuries older than its counterpart.

Today the Eastern and Western Pagodas have been enclosed by small parks – the Eastern Pagoda is surrounded by a greener park. The Western Pagoda has less greenery around it and more in the way of historical commentary (in Chinese) and interesting bas-relief depicting images from the past.

References

* [http://www.planetware.com/kunming/pagoda-of-the-west-temple-and-pagoda-of-the-east-temple-chn-yn-kpw.htm Kunming - Pagoda of the West Temple and Pagoda of the East Temple]
* [http://www.ynu.edu.cn/english/math/km.html Kunming] - Yunnan University