CHINESE ARCHITECTURE BOERSCHMANN. 



551 



consideration is necessary to understand the rhythm of Chinese cul- 

 ture. We are reminded of the system of Pythagoras, in which num- 

 bers represent the intelligence of the world. His system may be ex- 

 plained and understood by the Chinese system which I shall designate 

 as the cosmogonic numbers. 



The pagodas, that stand out as isolated columns, are well adapted 

 to represent the number 4 of the gods, or that of 8 or 16. Their in- 

 terior always contains an image of a Buddha or a sacred memorial of 

 him that embodies the conception of the world, and around which 

 the other gods are merely grouped. 



A marble pagoda in Canton, erected about the middle of the eight- 

 eenth century, has four sides, 

 on each of which, indicating 

 the four cardinal directions, 

 there are the great Bodhi- 

 satvas riding a lion, an ele- 



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\o O o Q o o o I 







1^1 



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phant, or other symbolical 

 animal. 



Another beautiful pagoda 

 is on the island of Pu-to-shan. 

 It was built at the latest dur- 

 ing the Ming dynasty, and it 

 is a clear, vigorous presenta- 

 tion of the rhythmic number 

 of Buddhas on its four sides. 



The octagonal great pagoda 

 in T"ien-ning-sze at Peking, 

 dating from the Mongolian 

 period, is covered with large 

 reliefs in stucco, and is highly 

 ornamented with elaborately 

 sculptured tiles. The small 

 entablature carriers are very natural, carrying cornices after the 

 manner of Atlants. 



Sometimes four pagodas surround a central pagoda. The Emperor 

 K'ien-lung in 1793 built an imposing group in memory of Panchen 

 Erdeni Lama, who died while on a visit in Peking. It is entirely of 

 marble and very elaborately covered with ornamentations and sculp- 

 ture. The central structure is on a high terrace surrounded by four 

 small octagonal columns. The rhythm of the numbers is repeatedly 

 represented in its relation to religion. The most important of these 

 marble pagodas is that at the temple of Pi-yiin-sze, previously men- 

 tioned as one of the most beautiful temples in China. It is situated 

 near Peking, in the western hills, with numerous other temples that 



Pig. 4.— Reception hall, with large sofa, four tables, and 

 eight seats. 



