Yuquan Temple Iron Pagoda

CHINA, Hubei, Yichang

Originally called the Buddha’s Tooth Relic Pagoda, it is located just outside Yuquan Temple. It is the best preserved iron pagoda in China and was built in 1061 during the Northern Song dynasty. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1982.
The 13-tier, octagonal, iron pagoda is 17.9 m high and built in imitation of a wooden structure. It was created using die-casting, with each tier cast individually, then joined together using mortise and tenon joints. The base platform is made of blue limestone, upon which there is a cast iron Sumeru base. The lower section is decorated with waves, mountains, and clouds. The indented section has reliefs of seated Buddhas on every side. The upper section is decorated with reliefs of two dragons playing with a pearl. At the corners there are majestic warriors clad in armor, supporting the pagoda.
On every tier there are eaves supported by delicate bracket sets. The corners of the eaves are extended and curl upwards. Above the roofs the base of the next tier is also underpinned by bracket sets. There are doorways on alternate sides of each tier. The remaining walls are decorated with reliefs of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and patterns. There are inscriptions on four sides on the second tier. They record the pagoda’s name, its weight, the year it was built, the names of the craftsmen, the benefactors, and other information relating to its history.