Pizhi Pagoda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pizhi Pagoda |
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Pizhi Pagoda, 54 m (177 ft) in height, built by 1063
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Country | Shandong province, China |
 Location in Shandong
Location in China
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| Architecture | |
| Founder | Emperor Xuanzong of Tang |
| Completed | 753 |
The Pizhi Pagoda (Chinese: 辟支塔; pinyin: Pìzhī Tǎ) is an old and tall Chinese tower. It is located at Lingyan Temple in China. This temple is found near the city of Jinan in Shandong province.
This amazing tower was first built a very long time ago in the year 753. That was during the time of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. The pagoda you see today was rebuilt much later. This happened between 1056 and 1063, during the Song dynasty. It is an octagonal (eight-sided) tower with nine stories. It is made of brick and stone and stands about 54 meters (177 feet) tall!
What's in a Name?
The Chinese name "Pizhi" comes from an old Sanskrit word, pratyeka. In Buddhism, a pratyeka is a special type of Buddha. These are people who become enlightened on their own. They do this through self-study and self-improvement. They don't need help from teachers or guides.
The Pizhi Pagoda was built to honor these pratyeka. This makes it quite unique among the many pagodas in China. Most pagodas are dedicated to other Buddhist figures.
Cool Features of the Pagoda
The main part of the pagoda is built from brick. But the outside has beautiful stone carvings. At the bottom, there is a stone base. This base has carvings on all four sides. These carvings show scenes from the Buddhist afterlife. They also show scenes of what was believed to be Hell.
The first, second, and third floors have balconies. These balconies are held up by special Chinese wooden brackets called dougong. These brackets are a classic part of Chinese architecture. From the fourth floor up to the ninth, there are no balconies. Instead, there are only slanted roofs.
At the very top of the pagoda is an iron steeple. This steeple has several parts. It includes an upside-down bowl, discs, a sun, a crescent moon, and a bead. Strong iron chains hold the steeple firmly in place on the roof. Small iron statues of heavenly guards are placed on the corners. People believed these guards helped keep the chains secure.
Inside the pagoda, a large brick pillar and a brick staircase go up to the fifth floor. But to reach the very top where the steeple is, you need to use a winding staircase outside the pagoda. This design is often seen in pagodas made of stone. However, it is quite rare for pagodas made of brick.
See also
