Chongfa Temple Pagoda

CHINA, Henan, Shangqiu

The pagoda stands on the site of Chongfa Temple, in the northeast of Yongcheng. It was built between 1094 and 1098 during the Northern Song dynasty. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The nine-story, octagonal, brick pagoda is 34.6 m high. The four sides facing the four cardinal directions on each story have doorways with corbeled arches. Just inside the north door on the first story there is a stairway which leads to the higher levels. A small chamber can be found within each of the south, east and west doorways on the first story. The eaves are formed by a series of dogtooth bricks. The spire consists of an inverted bowl, seven stacked rings, a canopy, and a vase. Inside the pagoda the walls are embedded with 323 yellow and green glazed tiles that depict a Buddha and two disciples. Six brick or stone inscriptions are located at various places on the pagoda, recording the names of the donors and the date of the repairs.
Many timber structures within the pagoda have been replaced by stone, such as corner beams and steps. The stairs are unusual; they either run through the center of the pagoda in a zigzag fashion or along the walls. This combination is exceptional among Song dynasty pagodas.