Five-Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si), which is also called Jingangzuo
Sheli Baota, is located in Hohhot City. As there are five small
dagobas on the pedestal of the pagoda, it is named Wuta Si. Wuta
was originally a building of the temple constructed during 1727-1732.
Now the temple has disappeared, but the pagoda has remained.
The pagoda is 16 meters high (about 51 feet) and it is composed
of three parts: the base, the seat and the top (five dagobas).
The lower part of the seat is inlaid with inscriptions of Diamond
Sutra written in Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit. The upper part
is niches holding gold-plated statues of Buddha. The body of the
pagoda is glazed in greens and yellows.
On the northern wall of the pagoda, three sculptures are inlaid.
The Mongolian Astronomical Map is the only one labeled in Mongolian
so far in the world and it is of great importance to scientific
research.
Compared with other pagodas, Five-Pagoda Temple is unique in
at least two aspects: its special structure, pagodas over pagoda,
and the green and yellow colored glazes on the short eaves and
tops of pagodas. Those make Five-Pagoda Temple quite special,
a treasure of Hohhot City.
Note: The government of Hohhot City plans to restore the sites
in Five-Pagoda Temple. The projected will be finished in July
according to the schedule.