Miaodao Temple Twin Pagodas

CHINA, Shanxi, Yuncheng

Miaodao means Wondrous Path. According to the records, the west pagoda was constructed in 1069 during the Northern Song dynasty. Since they are similar in style, the east pagoda was probably built around the same time. The temple has since been destroyed leaving only the twin pagodas. They were listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The square brick pagodas are about 80 m apart and they are more than 40 m high. The east pagoda has seven stories. The entrance consists of an arched doorway on the west side leading to a chamber with a Buddha niche. Imitation wooden bracket sets made of brick support the eaves on the first and second stories, while corbeling forms the remaining eaves. False arched doors decorate the west side of the third and fourth stories, while pilasters can be located on stories five, six and seven. The pilasters divide each wall into three bays, although only the west wall features false arched doors and vertical bar windows.
The west pagoda originally had nine stories but now only six stories remain. An arched doorway is located on the east side but only the first story is hollow. From the second story upwards, all the walls feature two pilasters, separating them into three bays. False arched doors occupy the central bay while false vertical bar windows are located on the side bays. Imitation wooden bracket sets made of brick support the eaves on the first story, while all subsequent eaves are formed of corbeling and courses of dogtooth bricks. More than 20 artifacts, including silver sarcophagi and stone caskets, were discovered in the underground palace.