Tianning Monastery Pagoda 天寧寺塔

Building Information

The Tianning Monastery Pagoda is an octagonal stone and brick pagoda with thirteen eaves constructed in the miyan (密檐, meaning “closely-piled eaves” (Lin 2016, 111)) style in the Liao dynasty. A Liao stele found at the top of the pagoda documents its construction in 1119 supervised by prince Chun, a military general of the Liao military, under the decree of Emperor Tianzuo, and the construction was completed in 1120 (Wang and Wang 2011, 80). The finial (baoding) of the pagoda was a Qing dynasty reconstruction (Wang 1996, 10). 1

Although the center is now offset due to later renovations, Wang Shiren locates the original position of the pagoda at the center of the rectilinear complex of the Tianningsi (1996, 11). The pagoda is 55.38 meters tall according to a 1991 measurement (Wang 1996, 12). The body of the pagoda is seated upon a wide octagonal base consisting from bottom to top of a Mount Sumeru platform (xumizuo 须弥座) with horizontal patterning of cusped gable doorways (kunmen 壸门), another level consisting of the same pattern, a level of balcony structured decoration formed by railings (goulan) supported by bracket arms (dougong) in imitation of wooden structures, and three layers of upward-facing lotus petals that frame the shaft (Liang and Lin 1935, 142). The body’s first level contains alternating architectural features of arched doorways and mullioned windows on its cardinal and off-cardinal sides respectively. There are relief sculptures flanking or on top of the architectural features. The thirteen eaves are constructed with masonry in imitation of wooden structures: the eaves are complete with both eaves rafters and flying rafters which curve upwards at the corners, column tops are joined with both lan’e and pupaifang, and the columns support five-layer bracket sets with two steps of huagong (五铺作双抄) (Wang 1996, 13). The forty-five degree angle bracket arms (huagong) at the corners are also characteristic of late Liao wooden structures. The eaves are topped with glazed tiles (liuliwa) dating to distinct periods, and plate tiles (banwa) were also found dating to the Liao dynasty (Wang 1996, 12). 2