Shaoyang North Pagoda

CHINA, Hunan, Shaoyang

The pagoda is located on the northern bank of the Zijiang River. Construction began in 1573 during the Ming dynasty; however, due to its large scale, work continued for many years and initially only three stories were built. It was finished in 1582. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The seven-story, octagonal, brick pagoda is 37 m high. The octagonal base is constructed from limestone and is 1.9 m high, with each side measuring 6.3 m. The pagoda is made of bricks, many of which have inscriptions relating to the construction of the pagoda and the donors. A doorway is located on the north side of the first story and a stone tablet is inlaid on the exterior of the east wall. It records the names of craftsmen and donors, their places of birth, and other information, such as the date of inscription. There are ruyi bracket sets under the eaves of the first, second, and third stories, while two tiers of corbeling are found under the eaves of the fourth through seventh stories. Inside the pagoda there are passages on the east and west sides leading up to the uppermost story. The spire is in the shape of a gourd.