A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Towers are tall human-made Structures that are always taller than they are wide usually by a significant Margin. An eave is the edge of a Roof. Eaves usually project beyond the side of the building generally to provide weather protection Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist, and were often located in or near temples. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites This term may refer to other religious structures in some countries. In Myanmar and Thailand, "pagoda" usually means the same as stupa or chatiya, while in Vietnam, "pagoda" is a more generic term referring to a place of worship. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially A place of worship or house of worship is a building or other location where a group of people (a congregation) comes to perform acts of religious praise honour The modern pagoda is an evolution of the Ancient Indian stupa, a tomb-like structure where sacred relics could be kept safe and venerated. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist [1] The architectural structure of the stupa has spread across Asia, taking on many diverse forms as details specific to different regions are incorporated into the overall design.
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Terms
The word is first attested for in English in the period c. 1625–35; introduced from the Portuguese pagode, temple, from the Persian butkada (but idol + kada temple, dwelling. ) [2] Another etymology, found in many English language dictionaries, is modern English pagoda from Portuguese (via Dravidian), from Sanskrit bhagavati, feminine of bhagavat "blessed" < bhaga "good fortune. "
History of the Pagoda
The pagoda's original purpose was to house relics and sacred writings. [3] This purpose was popularized due to the efforts of Buddhist missionaries, pilgrims, rulers, and ordinary devotees to seek out, distribute, and extol Buddhist relics. A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. [4]
Symbolism
Chinese iconography is noticeable in Chinese pagoda as well as other East Asian pagoda architectures. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Chinese art ( Chinese: 中國藝術/中国艺术 has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling Dynasties of China and changing Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images The Chinese Pagoda is a Landmark in Birmingham, England. It is a stone carving of a Chinese pagoda, carved in Fujian, China The image of the Shakyamuni Buddha in the abhaya mudra is also noticeable in some Pagodas. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder A mudrā ( Sanskrit: मुद्रा lit "seal" is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhist iconography can be observed throughout the pagoda symbolism. [5]
In an article on Buddhist elements in Han art, Wu Hung suggests that in these tombs, Buddhist iconography was so well incorporated into native Chinese traditions that a unique system of symbolism had been developed. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices [6]
Architecture
Pagodas attract lightning strikes because of their height. Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of Electricity, which typically occurs during Thunderstorms and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or This tendency may have played a role in their perception as spiritually charged places. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Many pagodas have a decorated finial at the top of the structure. The finial is an architectural device typically carved in stone and employed to decoratively emphasize the Apex of a Gable, or any of various distinctive ornaments The finial is designed in such a way as to have symbolic meaning within Buddhism; for example, it may include designs representing a lotus. Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily The finial also functions as a lightning rod, and thus helps to both attract lightning and protect the pagoda from lightning damage. A lightning rod (USA or lightning conductor (UK is a single component in a Lightning protection system. Early pagodas were constructed out of wood, but steadily progressed to sturdier materials, which helped protect against fires and rot.
Pagodas traditionally have an odd number of floors, a famous exception being the eighteenth century pagoda "folly" designed by Sir William Chambers at Kew Gardens in London.
Land of Pagodas
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is famous for its pagoda-studded landscape, and is thus called as the Land of Pagodas. Taipei 101 ( POJ: Tai-pak yat-leng-yat is a 101-floor Landmark Skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan Taipei ( Taiwanese Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak-chhī Jhuyin Fuhao: ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄕˋ Hakka: Thòi-pet-sṳ has been the capital of Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Shwedagon Pagoda and the Pagodas of Bagan are amongst the most famous and reverred pagodas in the world.
Some famous pagodas
- Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar
- Nyatopol- Five storied Pagoda,Bhaktapur, Nepal
- Chùa Một Cột- One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam, is an icon of Vietnamese culture. The Shwedagon Pagoda (ʃwèdəgòun; ʃwèdəgòun pʰəjá officially titled Shwedagon Zedi Daw (ʃwèdəgòun zèdìdɔ̀ also known as the Golden Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and a former capital of Burma. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर जिल्ला Bhaktapur Jillā) also Bhadgaon or Khwopa (ख्वप Khvapa) is an ancient Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The One Pillar Pagoda ( Vietnamese: Chùa Một Cột, formally Diên Hựu tự 延祐寺 or Liên Hoa Đài 蓮花臺 is a historic Buddhist Hanoi ( Vietnamese: Hà Nội Hán Tự: 河[[wikt 内|内]], estimated population 3398889 (2007, is the Capital of Vietnam Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially The Culture of Vietnam which is the agricultural civilization based on Wet rice cultivating is one of the oldest of such in the Asia Pacific region
- Xumi Pagoda at Zhengding, Hebei, China, built in 636. The Xumi Pagoda ( or Sumeru Pagoda, also known as Summer Pagoda is a Chinese pagoda of the Buddhist Kaiyuan Monastery west of Zhengding Zhengding ( is a county in Hebei Province approximately 260 Kilometers south of Beijing, China. ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China.
- Miruksa Temple Pagoda at Iksan of Chollabuk-do province in the Republic of Korea, a Baekje pagoda mid 7th century. Mireuksa was the largest Buddhist temple in the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea
- Chùa Cầu- Bridge Pagoda, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam. Hội An is a small city on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Quang Nam ( Quảng Nam;) is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially
- Chùa Ấn Quang, a meeting place for Vietnamese Buddhist leaders in Ho Chi Minh City, and site of the Institute for Dharma Propagation. An Quang Pagoda (Vietnamese Chùa Ấn Quang, meaning "Light of the (Dharma Seal" Hán tự: 印[[wikt 光|光]] 寺) in Master Van The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious
- Daqin Pagoda in China, built in 640 by early Christians. Daqin Pagoda (大秦塔 in Chang'an, Shaanxi Province located by Louguan temple China, is the remnant of the earliest surviving Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
- Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built in Xi'an, China in 652. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda or Big Wild Goose Pagoda ( is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'an, Shaanxi province China. UserEl_C --> Xi'an ( Postal map spelling: Sian is the Capital of the Shaanxi province in the
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built in Xi'an, China in 709. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, sometimes Little Wild Goose Pagoda ( is one of two significant pagodas in the city of Xi'an, China, the site of UserEl_C --> Xi'an ( Postal map spelling: Sian is the Capital of the Shaanxi province in the
- Lingxiao Pagoda at Zhengding, Hebei, China, built in 1045. The Lingxiao Pagoda ( is a Chinese pagoda west of the Xinglong Temple in Zhengding, Hebei Province China. Zhengding ( is a county in Hebei Province approximately 260 Kilometers south of Beijing, China. ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China.
- Beisi Pagoda at Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, built in 1162. The Beisi Pagoda ( or North Temple Pagoda is a Chinese pagoda located at Bao'en Temple in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province China. Suzhou ( ancient name 吳) is a City on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country
- Tō-ji, the tallest wooden structure in Japan. is a Buddhist Temple of the Shingon Sect in Kyoto, Japan. Its name means East Temple and it once had a partner Sai-ji For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.
- The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, a wonder of the medieval world in Nanjing, China. The Porcelain Tower (or Porcelain Pagoda) of Nanjing ( also known as Bao'ensi (meaning "Temple of Gratitude" is a historical archaeological ( Chinese: 南京 Romanizations Nánjīng ( Pinyin) Nan-ching ( Wade-Giles China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National
- Pha That Luang, the holiest wat, pagoda, and stupa in Laos, in Vientiane
- Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng, built in 1049 AD, during the Chinese Song Dynasty. Pha That Luang (Paa T-had Lu-uang ( Great Stupa in Lao) is a Buddhist Stupa in Vientiane, Laos. WaT ( W entz a nd T eppei is a Japanese pop duo composed of singers/songwriters Eiji Wentz and Teppei Koike Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma Vientiane (vjɛnˈtjɑːn Lao ວຽງຈັນ Viang-chan) is the Capital city of Laos The Iron Pagoda (鐵塔 of Youguo Temple (佑國寺 Kaifeng City Henan province is a Buddhist Chinese pagoda built in 1049 AD Kaifeng ( formerly known as Bianliang ( Bianjing ( Daliang ( or simply Liang ( is a Prefecture-level city in eastern The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
- Liuhe Pagoda of Hangzhou, built in 1165 AD, during the Chinese Song Dynasty. Liuhe Pagoda ( literally Six Harmonies Pagoda or Six Harmonies Tower, is multi-storied Chinese Pagoda in southern Hangzhou, Zhejiang ( Postal map spelling: Hangchow) is a Sub-provincial city located in the Yangtze River Delta in the People's Republic of China, China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
- Phra Pathom Chedi the highest pagoda or stupa in the world Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Phra Pathom Chedi (พระปฐมเจดีย์ is the highest Stupa in the world with a height of 127 m Nakhon Pathom (นครปฐม is one of the central provinces ( changwat) of Thailand. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj
- Global Pagoda, the largest unsupported domed stone structure in the world. Global Pagoda is a Monument being built near the city of Mumbai, India.
- Pizhi Pagoda of Lingyan Temple, Shandong, China, 11th century. The Pizhi Pagoda ( is an 11th century Chinese pagoda located at Lingyan Temple, Changqing near Jinan, Shandong province China. Lingyan Temple ( is a Buddhist temple located from Tai'an in Changqing (长清 Shandong, China. ( is a coastal province of eastern People's Republic of China.
- Changzhou Tianning Baota, the highest pagoda in the world since its completion in April 2007, stands at 153. The Pagoda of Tianning Temple is a modern Chinese pagoda of Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. 7m in height.
- Songyue Pagoda on Mount Song, Henan, China, built in 523. The Songyue Pagoda, constructed in 523 CE is located at the Songyue Monastery on Mount Song, in Henan province China. Mount Song, known in Chinese as Song Shan ( Simplified Chinese: 嵩山 Pinyin: Sōng Shān is one of the Taoist Five Sacred Henan ( is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National
- Huqiu Tower, built in 961 outside of Suzhou, China. The Yunyan Pagoda or Tiger Hill Pagoda, and the Yunyan Temple Tower. Suzhou ( ancient name 吳) is a City on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu
- Pagoda of Fugong Temple, built in 1056 in Ying County, Shanxi, China. The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple ( of Ying County Shanxi province China, is a wooden Chinese pagoda built in 1056 during the ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China.
Modern skyscrapers that evoke pagoda architecture:
- The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, record setters for height (452m) in 1998. A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable Building. There is no official definition or a precise cutoff height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper The Petronas Twin Towers (also known as the Petronas Towers or Twin Towers) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were the world's tallest buildings Kuala Lumpur (ˈkwɑːləlʊmˈpʊər Malay /kwɑlɑlʊmpʊ/ and locally /kwɑləlʊmpɔ/ or even /kɔlɔmpɔ/ or often abbreviated as K For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and
- Taipei 101 in Taiwan, record setter for height (508m) in 2004 and currently the world's tallest completed building. Taipei 101 ( POJ: Tai-pak yat-leng-yat is a 101-floor Landmark Skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia.
See also
Notes
- ^ The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. The architecture of the Song Dynasty (960–1279 was based upon the accomplishments of its predecessors much like every subsequent dynastic period of China. Chinese architecture refers to a style of Architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries Columbia University Press
- ^ Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition. Random House, New York, 1993.
- ^ A World History of Architecture By Michael W. Fazio, Marian Moffett, Lawrence Wodehouse. Published 2003. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0071417516.
- ^ The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture By John Kieschnick. Published 2003. Princeton University Press . ISBN 0691096767.
- ^ The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture By John Kieschnick. Published 2003. Princeton University Press . ISBN 0691096767. page 83
- ^ The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture By John Kieschnick. Published 2003. Princeton University Press . ISBN 0691096767. page 84
References
- The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture By John Kieschnick. Published 2003. Princeton University Press . ISBN 0691096767.
- A World History of Architecture By Michael W. Fazio, Marian Moffett, Lawrence Wodehouse. Published 2003. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0071417516.
- Psycho-cosmic symbolism of the Buddhist stupa, AB Govinda, 1976, Emeryville, California. Dharma Publications.
External links
- http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/kyongju/bulguksaindex.htm
- http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/ Tiger Hill Pagoda (Suzhou)