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The introduction plaque at the White Pagoda (Baita 白塔) Van Cutsem, Laurent; Luo, Yuqing

Description

Photo 6822 shows the Chinese introduction plaque of the White Pagoda (Baita 白塔)'s site and structure. It is located right at the base of the pagoda. The translation of the introduction is as follows: "Zhakou Baita is located at the Baita Hill near Qiantang River. It was built at the end of the Five Dynasties in Wuyue Region. On January 13th, 1988, Baita was announced to be the important national cultural relic by the State Department of China. Zhakou Baita is a stone pagoda imitating the wood pavilion style pagoda. It has eight sides and nine stories. The height is about 14 meters. Each storey is coordinated. The pavilion eaves are far-reaching yet elegant. At the foundation of pagoda there are carvings of mountains and sea waves, symbolizing nine mountains and eight seas; on top of the foundation it is the Sumeru Base with sutras inscribed. The nine stories on top of the Sumeru Base are made of three parts: pagoda body, eaves and leveled seat. The pagoda body is carved with stories of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and transformative tales (jingbian 经变). The carvings are vividly made, remarkably true to life. Zhakou Baita is the most exquisite and the most typical of the extant Five Dynasties Wuyue Region buildings (that imitate wood architectures). The style and structure of Baita is influential to the later pagodas and pillars, therefore is of great research values".

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