Pagoda

In English, pagoda simply means a tower that has several stories with eaves. They generally have an odd number of stories. Atop is typically a finial that acts as a lightning rod because of the height. These are normally located in parts of Asia. Not all but some are used as a place for Taoist worship, many others for Buddhist. Because of the religious affiliation, temples are nearby. Pagodas have become very similar to the Ancient Nepalese sanctuaries, a type of newari architecture, where divine ruins are kept intact. Each specific region adds something to the design of it. The term has been around since 1625 and derived from the Portuguese. In these structures, people have found they can use Buddhist iconography by using a system of symbolism.

The first pagoda was in the 3rd century, and was called Stupa. Stupa was a monument that was used for holding relics and sacred writing. Among the more famous pagodas in Japan is To-ji, the tallest wooden structure in all of Japan. It is looked upon as a symbol of Kyoto and wandering within is only allowed a few days a year.

Today, the pagodas have influenced many modern day buildings not just in Asia but in other countries too. For example, in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the building called Bombardier Pagoda is completely modeled after an Asian pagoda.