Ancient Pagoda

A wooden pagoda built during the Liao Dynasty in the year 1056 AD survived the test of time and today becomes a major tourists' attraction in Ying County of Shanxi Province in China. It is the Pagoda of Fogong Temple (佛宫寺释迦塔) built by Emperor Daozong of Liao (Hongji) at the site of his grandmother's family home. The pagoda, which has survived several large earthquakes throughout the centuries and the Sino-Japanese war, has been given the nickname of the "Muta" ( 木塔 "Timber Pagoda") and is the oldest wooden pagoda in existence in China.      

When we visited the Pagoda 2 years ago, we were amazed to find the wooden pagoda still in very good conditions. The pagoda stands on a 4 m  tall stone platform, has a 10 m tall steeple, and reaches a total height of 67.31 m tall. The wooden staircases inside the pagoda remained structurally sound and we were able to climb to the top floor without any imminent danger. Ancient builders of the pagoda really got all their sums and designs right as evident from the fact that the structure remains standing elegantly after so many centuries. Even earthquakes and wars did not harm the integrity and soundness of its structure.
 

The Wooden Pagoda

The pagoda was placed at the centre of the temple ground, which was called Baogong Temple until its name was changed to Fogong in 1315 during the Yuan Dynasty. Although the size of the temple ground was described as being gigantic during the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty (1115–1234), the temple began to decline during the Ming Dynasty.


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Complicated joints

One amazing thing about the pagoda is that many different kinds of joints are used in its construction. Between each outer story of the pagoda is a mezzanine layer where the joints are located on the exterior. The pagoda is able to survive so long is because of these unique joints that held the structure together. The tour guide told us that even today carpenters are not able to figure out how this complicated joints work. A ring of columns support the lowest outstretching eaved roof on the base floor, while the pagoda also features interior support columns. A statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni sits prominently in the centre of the first floor of the pagoda. The windows on the eight sides of the pagoda provide views of the countryside, including Mount Heng and the Songgan River. On a clear day, the pagoda can be seen from a distance of 30 km.

Statues inside the pagoda

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Top of Pagoda

The Temple Ground

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Front View of Pagoda