Specialists of ancient architecture have begun restoring six
valuable Buddhist pagodas at Mount Songshan in central China's Henan
province.??
The six pagodas, all state-level cultural relics, are in the
Fawang Temple on the mount, where Shaolin Temple, famed worldwide
for its martial arts, is also located. Four of the six pagodas date
back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and one was built in the
Mongolian-ruled Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and one in the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911).
According to experts, the Tang pagodas are rare because they are
relatively well-preserved brick-stone buildings of the dynasty,
holding valuable clues to architectural and cultural research of
the dynasty, when the Chinese feudal civilization reached it
culmination.
Because of lack of maintenance and the weathering effects of
centuries, the pagodas are in poor condition. Experts will use
traditional techniques to reinforce pagodas and repair damaged
parts.
The whole project, also involving the management of surrounding
areas of pagodas, is listed as the key project for protecting
ancient cultural relics by the State Bureau of Cultural Relics,
which has allocated 4.12 million yuan (US$496,000) for the
restoration.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2003)