Yongning Pagoda

The Yongning Pagoda or Yongning Temple (simplified Chinese: 永宁寺; traditional Chinese: 永寧寺; pinyin: Yǒngníng Sì) in Luoyang was one of the tallest buildings of the world from 516 AD to 534 AD. The timber-frame pagoda with a complete column grid and a stabilising masonry-core was built during the Northern Wei in 516 AD, but is no longer extant.^[1] Possibly nine stories high, of which seven were made of earth platforms with wooden verandas, and the top two stories being completely out of wood.^[2] One source states that it was 90 zhang (about 240 m (790 ft)) high, plus a 10 zhang high pinnacle, which is thought to be an exaggeration.^[1] More reliable sources suggest that it may have been 40 zhang (about 100 m (330 ft))^[3] or 49 zhang high,^[1] including the pinnacle^[4] having possibly had a top height of 137, 147,^[5] or with a pinnacle of extra 7 zhang even 154.95 m (508.4 ft), making it the tallest building in the world at that time and the tallest pagoda ever built until the completion of the Tianning Temple (Changzhou) in 2007. According to evidence unearthed by modern archaeological excavation, the pagoda had a square foundation of rammed earth with a width of 38.2 m (125 ft). The earthen foundation was covered by a 2.2 m (7.2 ft) thick layer of limestone bricks. Pillar bases have been discovered at each corner of the pagoda. According to Yang Xuanzhi who lived in Luoyang in the year 520, the pagoda could be seen from as far as 50 km (30 mi). The Yongning Pagoda was destroyed in 534 when it was struck by lightning and caught fire.^[3]

"Yongning Temple" redirects here. For the same-named temple near the mouth of the Amur River, see Yongning Temple Stele.

See also

• List of tallest structures built before the 20th century

References

1. "Four. The Development of Timber-Frame Architecture during the Two Jins and the Northern and Southern Dynasties". Traditional Chinese Architecture. Princeton University Press. December 31, 2017. pp. 97–139. doi:10.1515/9781400885138-010. ISBN 9781400885138.
2. Yu, Shuishan (August 27, 2021). "The Translation of Buddhism in the Funeral Architecture of Medieval China". Religions. 12 (9). MDPI AG: 690. doi:10.3390/rel12090690. ISSN 2077-1444.
3. Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman (2019). Chinese Architecture (PDF). Princeton University Press. pp. 94–95. ISBN 9780691169989. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
4. Wang, Guixiang (February 16, 2014). "Reconstruction of Yongning Pagoda of Northern Wei Dynasty Revisited". Academia.edu. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
5. "[消失的建筑] 永宁寺塔". news.xinhuanet.com. April 21, 2010. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2022.

Records
Preceded by Great Pyramid of Giza	World's tallest structure (disputed) c. 516 AD – 532 AD 147 m	Succeeded by Great Pyramid of Giza