Caiyue Tomb: Tower

CHINA, Hubei, Xiangyang; Eastern Han to Three Kingdoms period

This two-story tower was recovered from Caiyue Tomb in 2008. It was buried between the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220) and the Three Kingdoms period (220–280).
The tower is 104 cm high, 33 cm wide, and 31 cm deep. It stands in a courtyard whose gate has an elaborate roof with exaggerated ridge decorations resembling lotus leaves. The double doors each have two winged figures standing with joined palms. Below them is an animal’s head with a ring in its mouth. The small side door also has a relief of a figure. To the left of the doors, there is a lattice window.
The front portico of the tower has two octagonal columns, at the base of which there are squatting bears. There is a gable roof on the first story, while the second story is square and surrounded by balustrades. Each side has horizontal slatted windows, alternating with doors. It has a square pyramidal roof. Both stories have exaggerated roof decorations in the form of lotus leaves. The spire consists of seven stacked rings followed by a crescent moon.
The Han-style tower and the Indian-style spire represent the integration of two architectural styles.