Yungang Grotto 5: Pagodas

CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty

Carved in both corners of the front (south) wall are five-story tower-style pagodas supported by elephants. The base of each pagoda is carved in the shape of a Sumeru throne, while the tops consist of a harmika, a stacked ring spire, and a spherical wish-fulfilling jewel at the finial. The pagodas exhibit a combination of Indian and Chinese characteristics, with the overall structure resembling a Chinese pagoda.
All three faces of the pagodas are carved with arch-shaped niches which house seated Buddhas forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra with both hands. The front face of the pagoda on the left side has three niches on the first story and two niches on the remaining stories; while the other two faces of the pagoda have only one niche on each story. The pagoda on the right has three niches on each of the first four stories and two niches on the fifth story. Except for the central niche on the first story, which contains two Buddhas, the remaining niches have one seated Buddha in each.