Pagoda - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

History

Come from India, the pagoda, just like Buddhism, was propagated as from the 2nd century in China, then in Korea like with the Japan. The pagoda such as it is known is an evolution of the Indian Stûpa, i.e., a kind of burial where the crowned relics could be protected and venerated. The form of the Indian stûpa on the other hand - bowl with alms turned over, which evolves/moves later in half-sphere - enormously diversified during its propagation in Asia, until presenting, as it is the case of the pagoda, an architecture which does not have the characteristics of the stûpa any more.

In China, the pagoda, to the center of the large Buddhist temples, presented, moreover, other advantages and utilities. It was useful for example, very simply, of turn of observation, to see far being a sufficient motivation. The possibility that construction offered to supervise the movements of the enemies also constitutes an undeniable asset. Finally by its big size, in sea and river transport, the pagoda was used as benchmark: landing stages or bridges being in the vicinity. Composed of several stages, built in masonry, stone and brick, deprived of will shinbashira (term which will be defined thereafter), the pagodas have a vast interior space with access on the floors by staircases. Time of the Han (25-220) until the dynasty of the Qing (1644-1911), those have a highly religious function, being used as place of worship and place of conservation of relics for the Empire of the Medium, which did not prevent the Chinese from making use of it like observatory, as it was the case for example for the octagonal pagoda Liaodi.

Notice that one finds monuments hones some imitating the Chinese pagodas which were preserved in Korea, testifying to the time of the Chinese invasions of Korea.

In Japan, contrary to constructions which one finds in China, the pagoda is built out of wood and accompanied by a Shinbashira, and this as of the 7th century. Actually, the pagoda term such as it is usually heard indicates the Japanese pagoda with its broad decorative eaves. Composed of several stages also, it is presented in the form of an objet d'art and is mainly intended to be observed. The pagodas make up of a base, a body and an arrow or an ear but without staircase in Japan. Some of its timber constructions are always visible at present. Japan, much more than China, is crossed each year by Typhons or Séismes generating horizontal and vertical alternative accelerations being able to cause important damage with constructions.

Materials

Wood

Under Han, the ancient pagodas were like the majority of constructions of the time out of wood. Unfortunately, wood took fire rather easily, wood could also rot and be devastated by insects. It is the reasons for which, a certain number of them remained. On the other hand at the time of a seism, in fact the pagodas of wood resisted best: whereas those in masonry were shown not very stable. The pagodas out of wooden are present only at Japan with an exception near: the Sakyamuni pagoda 67 meters of the Fogong temple, the 11th height century and, the only structure entirely out of wood still existing in China.

Stone and the brick

To replace wood by brick and stone made the pagodas more resistant to fire. The use of these materials contributed to reduce the size of the eaves since the brick has a rather low flexional resistance and of shearing. It is in China that one finds the majority of the brick pagodas. Notice that one will also find still some pagodas out of bronze, iron ceramic or made up of bricks and tiles glazed in China.

The octagonal pagoda Liaodi (term meaning “Observation of the enemy”) of 1055 of the Kaiyuan temple in Dingzhou (northern of China) high 84 meters, adding up 11 stages is built in masonry. Typically Chinese, it is highest of the old pagodas still existing. The eaves consist of brick courses are short. A staircase is placed in the central part, and the pagoda is equipped with real doors and windows.

Examples of pagoda

the temple of Surya says also the black Pagode
the temple of Jagannâtha says also the white Pagode
the Rocher of Gold, known as also the pagoda of Kyaiktiyo

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