In the ‘golden age’ of the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE), China saw the introduction of Buddhism and state-sponsored architectural competition between that faith group and the indigenous Taoist sects. The Buddhist temples at the sacred mountain, Wu Tai, are from the eighth and ninth centuries CE and are still standing today due to the maturity of the carpenter’s craft. The most famous form of this architecture are the pagodas, some of which were built well over one hundred feet in height, over a thousand years ago. Today, in Shanxi province, one may visit the Shi Jia Ta, a five-story pagoda that, at sixty-seven feet, is said to be highest existing wooden structure of its type in the world. It is venerated with the simple nickname Mu Ta, ‘The Wooden Tower’. In 2013, the pagoda was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mysteries of the Carpenter 