pagodas

Pagodas are multi-tiered towers with upturned eaves that appear in Buddhist architecture across East and Southeast Asia. Though often associated with temples, pagodas function mainly as reliquaries and monuments within temple complexes. The term “pagoda” is used in English to describe these structures, which vary in form and materials by region but share a common origin in the Buddhist tradition and a lineage tracing back to earlier stupa designs.

Origins lie in the Indian stupa, which housed sacred relics. From India, Buddhist practices and architectural ideas spread to China and other parts of East Asia. Chinese pagodas began as wooden towers in late antiquity and evolved into brick or stone forms through successive rebuilds. From China, the design spread to Korea and Japan, where pagodas became prominent features of temple campuses, while Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia adopted and adapted the form to local traditions and materials.

Architectural features commonly include a vertical stack of stories, separated by decorative brackets and supported by overhanging eaves that give the structure a slender, soaring profile. The interiors may contain relics or scriptures, and exteriors are often richly carved or inscribed. The number of stories typically ranges from three to five in East Asia, with some Chinese and Japanese examples reaching seven or more in historical versions.

Notable examples include the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, and the five-story pagodas at Hōryū-ji in Japan as well as other temples in China and Korea. Pagodas are usually part of Buddhist temple complexes and are preserved as cultural landmarks, reflecting regional religious practices and architectural adaptation.