Baoyan Temple Pagoda

CHINA, Henan, Zhumadian

The pagoda is also known locally as Dongguan Pagoda and it was situated to the west of Baoyan Temple, which is no longer extant. According to its architectural features and inscriptions left by visitors, as well as copper coins found at the top of the pagoda, the structure was probably built during the late Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). Repairs were carried out in 1546 during the Ming dynasty and in 1902 during the Qing dynasty, while major reconstruction was carried out in 1980. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The seven-story, hexagonal, brick pagoda is 28.8 m high and built in imitation of a timber structure. On the west side of the first story there is an arched doorway, which leads to a square chamber with reliefs of Buddhas and pomegranate flowers on the walls. Two-tier imitation bracket sets support the eaves. The roofs consist of reverse corbeling followed by bracket sets supporting the base of the story above. The hexagonal pyramidal roof is in the form of reverse corbeling. The iron spire is only 2.2 m high with a hexagonal harmika and stacked rings. Images of apsaras and brick inscriptions are inlaid in the pagoda body. Even though the structure is hexagonal, the chambers on the first and second stories are square, while those on the third to seventh stories are hexagonal.