. Peking and the overland route. e Chinese visitors to the temple find some satis-faction in ascending a stairway on the east from whichthey can throw coins through a hole in the toj) and strikea smaller bell which is suspended inside. It is popularlybelieved that coins thrown through this Gold Cash Eyeturn to gold when they strike the inner bell. (14) The Five Pagoda Temple (Wu Ta Ssu iljt^),oHicially known as Ta Chen Chiao Ssu, is a uni(|uc blockof nuiso)iry about a mile north-west of the lisi Chin Men,not far fn^m the road to the Suiuiik r Iahice. which inaj>])earance is less a tenij)le
. Peking and the overland route. e Chinese visitors to the temple find some satis-faction in ascending a stairway on the east from whichthey can throw coins through a hole in the toj) and strikea smaller bell which is suspended inside. It is popularlybelieved that coins thrown through this Gold Cash Eyeturn to gold when they strike the inner bell. (14) The Five Pagoda Temple (Wu Ta Ssu iljt^),oHicially known as Ta Chen Chiao Ssu, is a uni(|uc blockof nuiso)iry about a mile north-west of the lisi Chin Men,not far fn^m the road to the Suiuiik r Iahice. which inaj>])earance is less a tenij)le than a monument. Thebuilding was erected l\v the Ming Ihiiasty EmperorYung Loh in the early part of the 15th centiny to houseand do honor to five gilded images of Btukiha and amodel throne brought from southern Bengal by a wealthyand jiious Indian named Baridida. who presented thestatuary to the Emperor. It is also said that the donor oS took up his residence and passed the remainder of his daysin the temple or its Five Storied Pagoda The building consists of a massive outer wall, which,so far as is known, is solid masonry, with a single, vault-like entrance. On the four corners of this wall rise thefour outer pagodas. The central pagoda rest on aninner block of masonry around which there is a tunnel-like passage with well-constructed intersecting arches atthe corners. In front of the central pagoda is a littleshrine dedicated to the five Buddhas, which originallycontained the diamond throne, while the five little towershad each a niche for one of the five Buddhas. The ascentto the upper terrace is made by way of passages leadingout of the entrance vault, now eight or nine feet abovethe floor with no stairway to assist one up. An activeman, who is willing to climb the smooth stone wall, canget on the terrace and inspect it and its pagodas at shortrange, but others must be content to study them frombelow. The outer walls of the temple are niched in six 59 tiers an
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Keywords: ., bookauthorthomasco, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1917
