CHINESE PAGODAS

Its halls and pavilions are built along the contours
of the cliff face using the natural hollows and outcrops.
The buildings are connected by corridors, bridges and boardwalks.
The closest city is Datong, 65 kilometers to the northwest.
Along with the Yungang Grottoes,
the Hanging Temple is one of the
main tourist attractions and historical
sites in the Datong area.
Built more than 1400 years ago, this temple is unique not only
for its location on a sheer precipice but also because it includes
Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian elements.
Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than 1400 years.
The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and maintained
in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so many years? Hanging Monastery is an architectural wonder.
A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework.
Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the
foundation, while the rock in back became its support.
Seen from below, Hanging Monastery appears
to be a tumble-down castle in the air.
Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the
same scene as other temples.
Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany, and Italy,
come to see the monastery. In their words, Hanging Monastery,
which mixes mechanics, aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare.
The monastery and everything it symbolizes embodies a
great cultural achievement of Chinese people.
The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it includes Buddhism,
Taoism and Confucianism. Inside the monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni,
Confucius and Laotzu appear together, which is unusual.
There are 40 halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. The features are vividly carved.
Why build a monastery like this? Location is the first reason; building a monastery on the cliff could shield it from floods.
In addition, the mountain peak protects it from rain and snow; and the mountain around it also diminishes damage from long-time sunshine.
The second reason is that the builders followed a principle in Taoism: no noises, including those from rooster crowing and dog baying; so from the upper ground, all noises drop away.
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