The Songyue Pagoda (Chinese: 嵩岳寺塔; pinyin: Sōngyuè sìtǎ) was built in 523 CE at the Songyue Monastery on Mount Song in Henan province, China. Constructed during the Northern Wei Dynasty, this pagoda is one of the few sixth-century pagodas in China that remains in good condition. It is also the oldest known Chinese brick pagoda. In 2010, the pagoda was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other nearby monuments as part of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in "The Centre of Heaven and Earth" site.
Background
The spread of Buddhism had a big impact on Chinese architecture. By the sixth century, Buddhism was quickly spreading across China, and Chinese culture was changing its traditions to include Buddhist worship. The Chinese changed the round earth mound of the South Asian stupa into the tall pagoda, which was used to hold sacred remains of Buddha. The Songyue Pagoda, built in 523 at the Songyue Monastery on Mount Song in Henan province during the Northern dynasties period, is the oldest surviving pagoda in China made of brick. Most buildings from that time were made of wood and have not survived, though ruins of earth walls and stone structures like que gate towers from the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) still exist. These structures have decorative parts that look like wooden features. Brick and stone Chinese pagodas also often have decorative elements that copy wooden designs, such as interlocking brackets.
Style and shape
The pagoda has changed in shape over time, starting from its Indian Buddhist roots and developing into its form in China. The Songyue Pagoda has a unique shape with twelve sides, showing an early effort to combine Chinese architecture with the circular style of Indian Buddhism. The base of the pagoda is wider than the top, similar to Indian and Central Asian Buddhist pillars and later round pagodas in China.
The Songyue Pagoda is special because it has twelve sides. It is 40 meters (131 feet) tall and made of yellowish brick held together with clay mortar. It is the oldest surviving pagoda, built when most pagodas were made of wood.
The pagoda has a low, plain brick base and a very high first story, typical of pagodas with multiple eaves. The first story has balconies that divide it into two layers, connected by doors. The doors have carved arches and decorative areas shaped like teapots or lions. Lotus flowers are carved at the base of the door pillars, and the tops of the pillars have carved pearls and lotus flowers. Above the first story, there are fifteen closely spaced roofs with eaves and small windows. Each story has densely clustered, ornamental eaves in the dougong style.
Inside the pagoda, the walls are cylindrical, with eight levels of stone supports that likely held wooden floors. Below the pagoda, there are underground rooms used to store cultural items buried with the dead. The innermost chamber contains Buddhist relics, copies of Buddhist scriptures, and statues of Buddha.