Hongjue Temple Pagoda

CHINA, Jiangsu, Nanjing

Hongjue stands for Great Awakening. The temple is located at the eastern foot of Niushoushan. It is thought that the temple was built in 774 during the Tang dynasty, but was later destroyed. The present pagoda was constructed during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), the temple was destroyed leaving only the pagoda and some rock inscriptions. In 1956 an underground palace was discovered beneath the pagoda, housing artifacts such as a gilt Tibetan stupa, a Buddha image, and jade vases. The pagoda was listed as a Municipal Cultural Heritage Site in 1982.
The seven-story, octagonal, brick and timber pagoda measures 45 m high. While the exterior is octagonal, the interior is square. The chamber on each story is offset by 45 degrees compared with the one below and above, which is a feature commonly seen in brick pagodas from the Jiangzhe region (Jiangsu and Zhejiang) during the Song dynasty (960–1279). The first story is surrounded by a veranda, while the remaining stories have balustrades. On each story, real arched doors alternate with fake arched doors. The eaves and bases of each story are supported by bracket sets. The octagonal pyramidal roof is surmounted by a spire consisting of an inverted bowl, a representation of an upturned lotus and jewels.