The world's tallest wooden pagoda, built nearly 1,000 years ago without a single iron nail!

All over the world we can find many beautiful religious buildings. But Shanxi, China, hides a truly magical structure: a towering pagoda made entirely of wood. Not only is this pagoda incredibly tall, but what's even more surprising is that not a single nail was used to build it.

This pagoda is called Yingxian wooden pagoda (also known as Yingxian wooden tower) , located in Fogong pagoda, away from Yingxian district, Son Tay province (about 10km west of the center). It was first built in 1056 AD and has a history of nearly a thousand years. Not only is it the tallest and oldest wooden building in China, but it is also the only large tower in the world with an entirely wooden structure and no nails or rivets .

This temple is called Yingxian wooden pagoda (also known as Yingxian wooden tower).

Wooden parts are joined together by punching holes and tenons of the correct shape, then using wooden pegs to fix them. This wooden tenon technique ensures the sturdiness and durability of the project, while creating a unique aesthetic beauty. Wooden components are arranged and arranged reasonably, creating gravity balance for the entire project. Thanks to this, Yingxian Pagoda can withstand the weight of tiled roofs, falling snow and even earthquakes.

The height of Yingxian wooden tower reaches 67.31 meters, equivalent to the height of 20 floors, and the tower body adopts an octagonal design. Although it has survived many earthquakes and wars, this wooden pagoda is still standing, which is definitely the best evidence of China's ancient woodworking skills.

How did ancient Chinese craftsmen build such a tall wooden tower without modern tools and machinery? In fact, the craftsmen chose a high-quality wood called hard boxwood . Hard boxwood is corrosion resistant and easy to work with. This is a material often used in ancient buildings. In addition, wooden parts are joined together by punching precisely shaped holes and tenons, then using wooden pegs to fix them without using nails.

Tenon connection is an ancient technique that uses the concave and convex parts of two or more parts to join together to form a stable connection. This connection method is both beautiful and sturdy, and can withstand larger loads. In the Yingxian wooden tower, craftsmen used many different tenon connection methods, including straight tenon, cross tenon, hidden tenon, etc., making the entire tower structure sturdy and stable.

The height of Yingxian wooden tower reaches 67.31 meters.

The pagoda frame is made from large wooden bars, linked together with complex joints. These joints are crafted so precisely that there is no need to use glue or nails to secure them. Yingxian Temple has the typical architecture of Chinese Buddhist temples at that time, with three main halls: the Great Hall, the Guan Yin Palace and the Three Saints Palace. The palaces are arranged along the main axis, creating majesty and magnificence.

In addition to superior construction technology, Yingxian wooden pagoda also has profound cultural significance. On each floor of the tower there are exquisite murals and Buddha statues, reflecting the social style and Buddhist beliefs of that time. These works of art not only demonstrate the artistic talents of ancient artisans but also provide us with important clues for studying history and culture.

Yingxian Wooden Tower in Shanxi, China is an amazing building that integrates engineering technology, art and culture. It not only demonstrates the excellent skills of ancient Chinese woodworking, but also demonstrates the profound heritage of ancient Chinese culture.

As time passed, Yingxian wooden pagoda also faced some challenges. Due to the natural aging process of wood and the impact of environmental factors, this tower has some cracks and corrosion. To protect this precious cultural heritage, the Chinese government and relevant agencies have implemented a series of protection measures, including regular maintenance, monitoring and research.

Yingxian Wooden Tower is a wonderful building that integrates engineering technology, art and culture.

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is not only a unique architectural work but also has enormous historical and cultural value. The pagoda is a testament to the creativity and sophisticated construction techniques of the ancient Chinese. Yingxian Temple is also a spiritual tourist destination that attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists every year.

At the same time, we should also realize that protecting cultural heritage is not only about repairing and preserving it, but more importantly, inheriting and promoting its cultural value. Therefore, we should use popular education and science activities to let more people know more about Yingxian Wooden Temple and feel its unique appeal, in order to protect and inherit cultural heritage Ours is better.