Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 578

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Pagodas in and near Cunton.

Ост.

is a question which has been discussed at some length; we are inclined to think that it is indigenous, and that even the unimagina- tive Chinese architect would have produced something better than the simple nine-storied pagoda if he had tried to imitate the ornate pyrami- dal edifice of the Hindu. The similarity between the two is too slight, and the purposes for which they were erected too unlike, to lead us to suppose that one was copied from the other. The Chinese táh is somewhat connected with the Budhist faith, and a few still have mo- nasteries near them; but they are so much more closely related to the geomantic notions of this people, that they are not now much associated with the Budhists. The remark of Rev. Mr. Milne, in refer- ence to the Tower of Ningpo, "that the presence of such an edifice not only secures to the site the protection and favor of heaven if it already bears evidences of enjoying it, but represses any evil influences that may be native to the spot, and imparts to it the most salutary and felicitous omens," at once explains their purpose, and discloses the motive which has impelled the Chinese to erect such apparently use- less buildings.

The number of pagodas in China is unknown, and there is some variety in their height and mode of construction, but their general as- pect is marked with the same uniformity that attaches to everything architectural in this country. De Guignes has given drawings of seven, which he visited in his journey to Peking; the highest among them was near Káutảng chau in Shántung, and was eleven stories high. This writer seems at a loss to account for the fact that those erected near small towns are lower and smaller than those in cities, and sup- poses there may be some proportion demanded by usage between the size of the pagoda and the town; but the difference is owing probably entirely to the greater wealth of the city. This author mentions one of seven stories near Yángchau fú in Kiangsú nearly uniform in size to the top, the stories of which were merely divided by three rows of black bricks. He also speaks of many pagodas of five and seven stories in height :—indeed no district town or prefecture is considered to be complete without one of these felicitous structures, and they are probably as numerous as the district towns, though in many cases a cheap brick edifice of five stories is made to insure whatever of good luck the táh can bring.

The following account of the pagodas in the vicinity of Canton by a visiter to one or two of them, we introduce in connection with the preceding general observations, assured that our readers will be in- terested in its notices of these structures, which are such prominent