Wuwei: Pagoda

CHINA, Gansu, Wuwei; Western Xia period

Excavated from the Xijiao Forest Park in Wuwei, this small wooden pagoda is a burial artifact from the Western Xia period (1032–1227).
The pagoda consists of a base, body, roof and spire. The undecorated base has four layers painted in red, while the body consists of eight wooden panels, which are held together by iron fixtures. Covered in mantras, the golden Sanskrit syllables were originally set against a blue background, but their colors have changed over time. The pyramidal roof is divided into eight sections by slightly curved strips of wood. Each section has a faded circle with an indistinct image inside. In the center of the roof, there is an octagonal harmika followed by a bell-shaped spire in a series of layers. The finial has been damaged.