Five-Pagoda Temple
Five-Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si) is located in the southeast section of Hohhot City, capital city of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. There are five exquisite pagodas built on top of a Buddhist building, hence the name Five-Pagoda Temple. In fact, the pagodas are what have made this temple famous. It's also known by another name, the Jingangzuo Sheli Pagodas.
The Five-Pagoda Temple is an important Tibetan Buddhist temple. The pagoda in it is 16.5 meters (54.1 feet) high. There are over 1,000 Buddha statues carved on the body of the pagoda. Only the pagoda in Zhenjue Temple in Beijing resembles the shape of this one. However in terms of the art of architecture, the pagoda in Hohhot is more exquisite.
The pagoda consists of three parts; the foundation, Jingangzuo, and the five square pagodas. The vivid carvings and designs on the pagoda are finely made, and it is representative of the architectural achievements that were made in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).
The construction of the temple began in the 5th year of the reign of the Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. The Pagoda is 16.5 meters high and looks like a Buddha's Warrior Attendant's seat, with a base under it and five exquisite pagodas on the base. As more than 1560 relief sculptures of Buddhas are engraved on the five pagodas, the temple enjoys the reputation of being "a 10000-Buddha Tower". In addition, there are images of Bodhisattva, the four Devarajas, Buddhist Saint, Heavenly Ladies, holy birds and animal, bodhi trees and the engraved scriptures in Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit on the wall of the pagodas. On the wall facing the temple there are 3 marble relief sculptures, including a planisphere marked with Mongolian inscriptions. The pagodas are not only peculiar buildings, but also a huge exquisite carving.
Five-Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si), which is also called Jingangzuo Sheli Baota, is located in Hohhot City. As there are five small dagobas on the pedestal of the pagoda, it is named Wuta Si. Wuta was originally a building of the temple constructed during 1727-1732. Now the temple has disappeared, but the pagoda has remained.
The pagoda is 16 meters high (about 51 feet) and it is composed of three parts: the base, the seat and the top (five dagobas). The lower part of the seat is inlaid with inscriptions of Diamond Sutra written in Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit. The upper part is niches holding gold-plated statues of Buddha. The body of the pagoda is glazed in greens and yellows.
On the northern wall of the pagoda, three sculptures are inlaid. The Mongolian Astronomical Map is the only one labeled in Mongolian so far in the world and it is of great importance to scientific research.
Compared with other pagodas, Five-Pagoda Temple is unique in at least two aspects: its special structure, pagodas over pagoda, and the green and yellow colored glazes on the short eaves and tops of pagodas. Those make Five-Pagoda Temple quite special, a treasure of Hohhot City. Note: The government of Hohhot City plans to restore the sites in Five-Pagoda Temple. The projected will be finished in July according to the schedule.
The Five-Pagoda Temple has been listed as a national historical site since 1988.
Source: chinats.com
Editor: Wang Moyan
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