Japanese architecture is unique in various aspects, including the use of gardens and overreliance on wood as the primary construction material. However, one aspect of Japanese architecture that stands out is the use of multiple or highlighted roofs in buildings through a style known as a pagoda. The pagoda is an architectural function that is mainly used in East Asia. The origins of this element are traced to the Indian stupa, a monument-like structure used as a shrine for burying notable religious figures among other rulers. Notably, when Buddha died, his ashes were spread in several pagoda-like structures, thereby earning them some permanence in the Buddhism religion (***). Pagodas in their current forms are tiered-towers that might have multiple eaves. These icons of architecture are familiar in China and Japan, among other Asian countries. In Japan, pagodas are influenced by Chinese architecture, but over time, clear differences between structures from the two countries have emerged. The key structural differences between Chinese and Japanese include the fact that the former is taller and carry aspects of fundamental domestic architecture. At the same time, the latter is shorter, and it is mainly built from wood. On the other hand, Korean pagodas have more religious inclinations than architectural intonations. This essay discusses the key differences in design, decoration, and construction elements between the Japanese pagoda temple complex, on the one hand, and the symbolism and designs from Korea and China on the other.
In the context of the Japanese temple complex, the pagoda was primarily used as a burial place for Buddhist religious leaders. For instance, after their cremation, most Buddhist leaders would be enshrined in a temple complex. The remains of prominent Buddhist leaders in Asia would be divided up and redistributed in several shrines around the region, following in the footsteps of the stupa traditions. In order for local Buddhist chapters in Korea and Japan to share in this tradition, they were often required to build their pagodas for purposes of enshrining great leaders. However, with time, the pagoda temple complexes in Japan and Korea would be used to enshrine not only the remains of prominent leaders but also ornaments and scrolls from these Buddhist figures. The Japanese temple complex was quite similar to the one in Korea, mainly because they had coinciding pursuits of centralized authority through religion.
On the contrary, the Chinese pagoda temple complex coincided with a time when the country had a central authority through a dynasty. The more diversified role of the Chinese temple complex meant that it was easier for its core structural elements to be changed than for those in Japan. For example, the core role of the temple complex in Japan did not change until a few centuries after they arrived in China. Besides, the pagoda temple complex in Korea maintained its fundamental aspects of symbolism for a long time before the first changes were noticed.
The pagoda’s architectural design is borrowed from the South Asian stupa. The Chinese were that first to adopt aspects of this design, and the first thing they changed about it was the round earthen mound that was used as a roof in the stupa. Instead, the Chinese design adopted a multi-tower approach that was being employed in watchtowers from the Han Dynasty ***. The most likely reason China changed the initial stupa design was to mimic some changing aspects of Chinese Buddhism. Notably, even though Buddhism in China dates back to the first century BC, the pagoda design was first seen in the country in the sixth century BC (***). By this time, some aspects of Buddhism that would have come from India had changed considerably after arriving in China.
In comparison, Buddhism crossed into Japan from Korea around the sixth century BC. In Korea, pagodas were primarily for temple purposes, but when they went to Japan, they slowly lost their strong links to religion ***3. For instance, in Japan, pagodas would have simple applications such as their use in living houses and structures that were meant for tea ceremonies. Meanwhile, it is almost impossible to locate aspects of pagoda design in other areas of architecture other than temples.
The key difference in design between the pagodas temple complex is that the Japanese model is often a five-tier structure. Each of the five tiers in the Japanese pagoda represents nature in a manner that mimics the “branches of the tree of life” ***8. Traditionally, the five tiers in a Japanese temple complex represented fire, water, earth, fire, sky, and wind. Buddhist traditions directly influence the lotus flower design in the tiers. On the other hand, the Chinese and Korean pagodas are often designed with at least seven roof layers. These designs can often accommodate more tiers, as seen in the ancient Songyue temple in China [13. The designs do not include practical doors and windows for the more symbolic pagoda temple complexes, and they are often emblematic.
Pagodas from China and Korea often use a diverse approach in their construction, while those from Japan are quite standard. For instance, Japan’s pagodas often use wood as the only material for construction. These structures are also constructed using one big central pillar that holds this structure together. Also, the central pillar in the Japanese structure is often buried deep underground. The various floors in a Japanese pagoda are stacked on top of each other, thereby transferring the weight downwards and not to the central pillar in this structure. This method of construction is not informed by religious or traditional aspects of architecture, but by the need to avoid damage from frequent earthquakes in Japan. Chinese pagodas also started out using timber, but the material was later on changed to stone to lessen the impact of lightning. An abundant supply of granite in Korea made this the primary material for constructing pagodas. The use of this high-quality material for construction combined with simple designs is responsible for some of the surviving ancient pagodas in Korea.
Some of the main differences between the three temple complexes are seen though their various approaches to decoration. First, the Japanese pagoda stands out from the other two because of their reliance on timber as the main building material means that it is easier for them to be painted with a wide range of colors. For example, some outstanding temples in Japan have been painted in scarlet red color, but the more common decoration involves mixing reddish timber with dark brown timber***15. On the other hand, pagoda temple complexes in China and Korea are rarely decorated using contrasting colors, but they mainly rely on Buddhist motifs for decoration. A good example of Korean decorations in temple complexes is the Iron Pagoda in Henan, whose main decoration is Buddhist motifs****16. The main difference between China and Korea pagodas on the one hand, and Japanese ones on the other, is that the former can appear alone without being part of a temple complex. Therefore, decorating a pagoda with Buddhist motifs is an essential part of the Chinese and Korean temple complexes.
Pagodas in temple complexes in China, Korea, and Japan trace their origins to Buddhist stupas in India. However, when they became part of the three countries’ cultures, they ended up assuming new meanings. In Japan, the role of the pagoda temple complexes changed gradually in comparison with Korea. Where traditional symbolisms remained deeply entrenched into these structures. On the other hand, pagoda’s essence of the religious monument was difficult to accommodate during the Han Dynasty because central authority was reserved for the Emperor. In terms of decorations, Japanese pagodas are most likely to use color to decorate, while Chinese and Korean once mainly rely on Buddhist motifs.