Tiancheng Temple Relic Pagoda

CHINA, Tianjin

It is located to the west of the main hall in Tiancheng Temple. Its date of construction is unknown but it was reconstructed between 1111 and 1120 during the Liao dynasty. When the pagoda underwent renovations during the rule of Emperor Chongzhen (reigned 1628–1644) of the Ming dynasty, a stone reliquary, some relics, and Buddha statues were discovered. The spire was added during the repairs carried out in 1980. It was listed as a Municipal Cultural Heritage Site in 1982.
The 13-tier, octagonal, brick pagoda is 22.6 m high. It stands on a double-layer stone base platform: the bottom layer is square, while the upper layer is octagonal. Above the base platform, there is an octagonal Sumeru base constructed from stone slabs, surmounted by three layers of upturned lotuses supporting the pagoda body. There is a doorway on the south side of the pagoda with Buddha niches inside. The north, east, and west sides have fake brick doors, while the four remaining sides have rectangular lattice windows. Imitation wooden bracket sets support the eaves. At the corners there are two-tier bracket sets with a single downward-pointing cantilever. All the eaves are in the form of corbeling, which gradually decreases in size with height. The spire consists of an octagonal base, an inverted bowl, lotuses, stacked rings, a canopy, and a jewel.