Kunming East and West Temple Pagodas

CHINA, Yunnan, Kunming

The Changle and Huiguang Temples were built between 752 and 902 during the Tang dynasty. Because of their locations, they were known as the East Temple and the West Temple. Both temples no longer exist, but the two surviving pagodas at their former locations are still called the East and West Temple Pagodas. The West Temple Pagoda was constructed in 829, while the East Temple Pagoda was built in 854, both during the Tang dynasty. After collapsing in 1499 during the Ming dynasty, the West Temple Pagoda was replaced with a replica of the East Temple Pagoda. In 1833 during the Qing dynasty, the East Temple Pagoda collapsed and in 1887 was rebuilt. Both of these pagodas still retain the architectural style of Tang pagodas.
Both square, hollow, brick pagodas have 13 tiers. They are narrow at the base, widest at the eighth tier, and tapered towards the top. A copper garuda is located at each corner of the roof. The spire consists of copper stacked rings, a canopy, a disc, and jewels.
The East Temple Pagoda is around 40 m high and has an underground palace. There are whistles built into the beaks of the copper garudas on the southwest and northeast corners on the roof. Formerly, they whistled in the wind, but they are now rusty and can no longer be heard. The West Temple Pagoda is around 36 m high. Its body features images of pagodas, dharani in Sanskrit, and bricks with the names of donors.