Twin Pagoda Temple, Buddhist temple in Taiyuan, China.
Twin Pagoda Temple is a Buddhist sanctuary in Taiyuan featuring two octagonal towers with emerald green glazed roofs that stand at notably different heights. The grounds contain multiple courtyards with temple buildings, gardens, and numerous stone objects that create a layered complex spanning different construction periods.
The two pagodas were built during the Ming Dynasty, with the eastern tower completed in 1597 and the western tower in 1612. These construction phases separated by 15 years shaped the evolution of the site during this period.
The temple holds hundreds of stone steles moved here from closed temples, displaying Buddhist teachings and historical inscriptions from earlier periods. Walking through the grounds, you encounter these carved stones that show how religious traditions were recorded and valued over time.
The site is easy to navigate on foot, with the pagodas visible from multiple viewpoints as you move through the various courtyards and pathways. The structures require caution when entering older buildings, and shaded rest areas are limited in the open sections.
The eastern pagoda is topped with three copper magic gourds, a rare decoration linked to Chinese folklore and protection symbols. On the grounds grows a peony tree from the Ming Dynasty period, showing how certain plants have been tended across the centuries.
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