Tianning Temple Pagoda

CHINA, Hebei, Shijiazhuang

It is also known as Lingxiao Pagoda and is located on the site of Tianning Temple, which is no longer extant. According to the inscriptions found on the stone casket excavated from the underground palace, the temple was established some time during the rule of Emperor Daizong (reigned 762–779) of the Tang dynasty. It was renovated in 1045 during the Northern Song dynasty, and reconstructed in 1141 during the Jin dynasty. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1988.
Constructed from brick and wood, the nine-story octagonal pagoda is approximately 41 m high. Its structure is rather unusual: the four lower levels are built in a multi-story tower style, while the five upper levels have dense eaves. The first to third levels of the pagoda are made of brick, while the eaves are wooden. From the fourth to the ninth levels, everything is constructed from wood, except for the iron spire. The pagoda’s combination of brick and timber is typical of the Jiangnan (region south of the Yangtze River), and is rarely seen north of it, as in this example.
The entrance to the pagoda is on the first level, where there are brick stairs leading to the fourth level. From the fourth level upwards, there is a central pillar that reaches all the way to the top. The central pillar structure was commonly seen during the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties, but few such structures have survived.