Twin Pagodas of Shuangta Nunnery

Twin Pagodas of Shuangta Nunnery

The Twin Pagodas of Shuangta Nunnery are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Twin Pagodas of Shuangta Nunnery, also known as the Twin Pagodas of Taining Temple, are located on the mountainside about 1.5 kilometers northwest of Taining Temple Village, Xiling Township, Yixian County. Both existing pagodas are Liao Dynasty structures. The South Pagoda was originally built in the 14th year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1144).

The North Pagoda is an octagonal, thirteen-story, dense-eave style solid brick pagoda from the Liao Dynasty. Although it was renovated during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, it still retains the architectural style of the Liao period. The pagoda stands 17.4 meters tall in total and is divided into three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. The base is a Sumeru pedestal, with a mighty figure carved on each corner of the waist section and each face divided into two blocks featuring carvings of auspicious clouds, scorpions, earthworms, goldfish, and other patterns. Above the waist section is a brick-carved bracket set supporting a railing, which is also intricately carved with various designs. It holds an inverted lotus base that supports the pagoda body. The first story of the body features a arched gate on the front, leading to a square heavenly chamber with a domed ceiling. On both sides of the front, there are brick-carved windows with diamond-shaped lattice patterns. At each corner, there is a small seven-story brick pagoda, above which is a set of five-curved brick brackets supporting eave rafters and flying rafters. The rafter surfaces are finished with tubular tiles, while the corner beams are wooden with animal and wind chime ornaments at the ends. The eaves of the second story and above are all formed by corbel bricks, with each tier decorated with tiles. The finial consists of a double-layered inverted lotus supporting a radiant jewel.

The South Pagoda is a hexagonal, three-story, dense-eave style solid pagoda, originally built in the 14th year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1144) and renovated during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era. It stands 10.58 meters tall and is divided into three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. The base is a brick platform topped with a Sumeru pedestal, the waist section of which is adorned with brick carvings. It supports brackets that hold a railing, above which is an inverted lotus base for the pagoda body. The first story has a gate on the front, leading to a Buddha niche, with a pair of flying apsaras carved on the gate arch. Opposite the gate is a brick-carved false door. The other sides feature either brick-carved false windows or dragon-patterned tablet tops. Each corner has a brick-carved pagoda column. The second and third stories have eave-style structures, supported by layered corbel bricks. The finial section, from bottom to top, includes a brick-built inverted bowl, thirteen rings of spires, an inverted lotus, and a precious bead.

In May 2013, the Twin Pagodas of Shuangta Nunnery were announced as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further reading:

· Second Group of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units