Tawan Pagoda

Tawan Pagoda

Tawan Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

Tawan Pagoda is located in Tawan Village, Tianshui Township, Liaoyang County, Liaoyang City, situated on Tawan Mountain. There are no historical records documenting the exact construction period of the pagoda. Based on its architectural style, brick carvings, and artistic elements, it is speculated to date back to the Liao and Jin dynasties, though some suggest it was a Ming dynasty reconstruction imitating Liao-style architecture. According to the "Pagoda Inscription" dislodged by an earthquake, the pagoda underwent major repairs during the 27th year of the Guangxu Emperor’s reign, and was comprehensively renovated in 1998.

Liaoyang’s Tawan Pagoda is an octagonal, seven-tiered, dense-eave solid brick pagoda, standing 27.66 meters tall (some sources say 22.6 meters). The base is built directly on a rocky platform, with each face measuring 2.14 meters wide. Above the base is a waist eave, with two niches on each face housing brick-carved seated Buddhas. At each corner is a brick-carved load-bearing deity, above which are bracket sets supporting railings. The corner pillars frame the railings, with seated Buddhas in the middle of the panels and decorative floral bricks on the sides. The lower part consists of a pedestal, atop which is a balustrade platform. The first tier of the pagoda body is built upon this platform, with vertical columns on each face, featuring architraves and purlins. Above these are four-tiered bracket sets. These brackets can be divided into corner and inter-tier types, supporting the first eave of the pagoda. The surface features a prominent cornice, with each Buddha statue differing slightly in expression and posture. Some have sustained minor damage, while others remain well-preserved. The second tier follows similarly. The lower section is relatively intact. The first tier also includes carved decorative elements.

Each face of the first tier of the pagoda body features brick carvings of one Buddha statue and two flying apsaras. The entire structure is built using a bracket-and-beam wood system. Its architectural style resembles that of the small brick pagoda in Tazigou, Suizhong County, sharing similarities as a solid, dense-eave structure, leading to the inference that this pagoda was built in the late Liao dynasty. Nearby, there are also remains of the original temple complex. The pagoda eaves are divided into seven tiers; the first tier from the bottom includes wooden rafters and brick-carved bracket sets. The spacing between tiers is relatively small, and wind bells hang at the corners. The spire consists of an inverted lotus base supporting a brick-built precious bottle, with a spire pole rising above it.

The brick carvings and architectural design of Tawan Pagoda demonstrate a high level of artistic craftsmanship. The pagoda also served as a landmark for ancient envoys traveling between China and Korea. In November 1983, it was designated as a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit, and in January 1988, it was listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning.