Taimadera Temple East Pagoda
Taimadera Temple East Pagoda
JAPAN, Nara, Katsuragi
The east pagoda is located within the Taimadera Temple. It was built during the later reign of Empress Koken (reigned 729–749) and underwent major reconstruction during the Kamakura period (1185–1333). This pagoda, along with the west pagoda dated to the early Heian period (794–1185), was listed as a National Treasure in 1952.
The three-story, 24.4 m high east pagoda has a roof covered with cylindrical tiles. The first story measures three-by-three bays, while the second and third stories measure two-by-two bays. There is a door in the center of the first story with windows on either side. The central column extends upwards to support the pagoda. On the first story there are four columns around the central column forming the sanctuary, in which there is a Sumeru throne. The floors are wooden. The spire of the pagoda consists of a harmika, inverted bowl, upturned lotus, and eight stacked rings, surmounted by a flame and a jeweled finial.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture T-Z, page 1079.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Lancaster, Lewis,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture T-Z},
pages = 1079,
title = {{Taimadera Temple East Pagoda}},
volume = 4,
year = {2016}}