Iron Pagoda

Iron Pagoda

The Iron Pagoda (鐵塔) of Youguo Temple (佑國寺), Kaifeng City, Henan province, is a Buddhist Chinese pagoda built in 1049 AD during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) of China. (The name of the pagoda refers to the color of the building, not the metal.) It was a brick pagoda tower built on the location of a previous wooden pagoda that had been burnt down by lightning fire in 1044 AD. Along with the Liuhe, Lingxiao, Liaodi, Pizhi, and Beisi pagodas, it is seen as a masterpiece of Song Dynasty architecture.

Architecture

This octagonal-base structure stands at a current height of 56.88 meters (186.56 feet), with a total of 13 stories. [Chinadaily.com.cn (2003). [http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_36209.htm Iron Pagoda] . Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.] It is a solid-core brick tower with an inner spiral stone staircase and outside openings to allow light and air flow.cite book
first=Gao
last= Daiheng
year= 2002
title=Chinese Architecture -- The Lia, Song, Xi Xia, and Jin Dynasties
edition= English Ed.
publisher=Yale University Press
location=
pages= p. 166, 183
id= ISBN 0-300-09559-7 ] The architectural style features densely positioned, articulated "dougong" in the eaves ("miyan") and multiple stories ("louge"). The exterior features more than fifty different varieties of glazed brick and 1,600 intricate and richly detailed carvings, including those of sitting Buddha, standing monks, singers and dancers, flowers, lions, dragons and other legendary beasts as well as many fine engravings. [cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.chinatravel.com/china-travel-guides/china-attractions/mountains/four-buddhist-holy-mountains/mt-wutaishan-in-shanxi.shtml
title=Mount Wutaishan in Shanxi Province
publisher=www.chinatravel.com
accessdate=2007-09-03 ] Under the eaves are 104 bells that ring in the wind. The foundation rests in the silt of the Yellow River.cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_36209.htm
title=Iron Pagoda
publisher=China Culture
accessdate=2007-09-03 ] Inside the Iron Pagoda are frescos of the classical Chinese tale, the "Journey to the West". [cite book
first=Damian
last= Harper
year=2005
month=
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nUxebsEoQoEC&pg=PA400&lpg=PA400&dq=youguo+temple&source=web&ots=MJLFgy7AQU&sig=FLLftmXupXmOpS6_-dAvAwXEvIU
title=China
publisher=Lonely Planet
accessdate=2007-09-03
id = ISBN 1740596870]

History

In the Northern Song (960–1127) dynasty's capital city of Kaifeng, the famous architect Yu Hao built a magnificent wooden pagoda as part of Youguo Temple (between 965–995 AD) that was considered by many of his contemporaries to be a marvel of art.Citation
first= Joseph
last= Needham
last2 = Gwei-Djen
first2 = Lu
last3 = Wang
first3 = Ling
year= 1971
title= Science and Civilisation in China, volume 4, part 3, Civil Engineering and Nautics
pages = 81–82
publisher = Cambridge University Press
location = Cambridge
id = ISBN 0521070600
doi = 10.2277/0521070600] It was thirteen stories and 120 meters high. Unfortunately, the widely admired structure burned down in 1044 after a lightning strike. Under the order of Emperor Renzong (1022–1063), a new pagoda was built in its place by 1049. The new tower was built of nonflammable brick and stone and was dubbed the 'Iron Pagoda' due its iron-grey color when viewed from afar (its bricks are in fact glazed red, brown, blue, and green). In 1847 the Yellow River overflowed its banks and the Youguo Temple collapsed, but the Iron Pagoda survived. Historically, the pagoda has experienced 38 earthquakes, six floods and many other disasters, but it remains intact after almost 1000 years. cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43300.htm
title=Youguo Temple Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng of Henan Province
publisher=china.org
accessdate=2007-09-03 ]

In 1994, the Iron Pagoda was featured on a two-yuan Chinese postage stamp. [cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.chinesestamps.org/topics/prcms/new/94-21.htm
title=1994-21: Pagodas of Ancient China - 1994
publisher=chinesestamps.org
accessdate=2007-09-04 ]

Gallery

ee also

*Architecture of Song Dynasty

References

External links

* [http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/attractions/iron-pagoda.shtml Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng]
* [http://www.warriortours.com/china-photos/kaifeng/0009407.htm Iron Pagoda at WarriorTours (Image)]
* [http://english.ctrip.com/Destinations/DistrictIntroduction.asp?District=165 Iron Pagoda at Ctrip]
* [http://english.cri.cn/725/2005/09/27/361@22076.htm Iron Pagoda at CRIENGLISH]


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