Archaeologists have uncovered a Buddhist temple in the city of Datong, located in China’s province of Shanxi.
Datong was situated in a frontier land between the agricultural Chinese and the nomads of the Great Steppe, first conquered by the Zhao clan of Jin in 457 BC.
The city was founded during the Han Dynasty in 200 BC, emerging as the capital of the Xianbei-founded Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 to 535), a period which saw the unification of northern China and an end to the chaotic Sixteen Kingdoms period.
Located in Pingcheng district of Datong city, the temple has a pagoda at the centre and is likely associated with a nearby royal palace from the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Chinese pagodas were tiered towers that were a traditional part of Chinese architecture. The example found at Datong is an early square formed pagoda, a typical form from the Sui and Tang dynasty.
Excavations of the pagoda floor has revealed a square shaped pit containing pearls, brass rings, and coral jewellery. Also uncovered in the pagoda foundations are over 200 well-preserved Buddhist statues, some of which are painted and decorated with gold leaf.
Several architectural features from the pagoda suggest that it was decorated with painted murals, which according to Li Shuyun from the Provincial Institute of Archaeology, provides new insights into the architectural forms of Buddhist pagoda construction during the Northern Wei Dynasty and is the most well-preserved pagoda foundations found in Datong.
Header Image Credit : Xinhua
Sources : Xinhua
