Next Article in Journal
Dynamic Maintenance Cost Optimization in Data Centers: An Availability-Based Approach for K-out-of-N Systems
Previous Article in Journal
Addressing Data Scarcity in Crack Detection via CrackModel: A Novel Dataset Synthesis Approach
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Architectural Evolution of Stupas in the Western Regions During the Han and Tang Dynasties

1
School of Architecture and Art Design, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
2
Urban and Rural Renewal and Architectural Heritage Protection Center of Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071056
Submission received: 29 November 2024 / Revised: 19 March 2025 / Accepted: 20 March 2025 / Published: 25 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate)

Abstract

The Western Regions during the Han and Tang Dynasties served as a significant cultural intersection along the Silk Road, with stupas acting as core architectural forms of Buddhist dissemination, embodying religious, cultural, and artistic evolution. This study is a research article based on typological analysis, integrating historical documents and archaeological site data to explore the stylistic evolution of stupa architecture in the Western Regions during the Han and Tang Dynasties, revealing the changes in religious beliefs and the process of cultural adaptation and integration of Buddhism in a multicultural context. The study demonstrates that the distribution of stupas shifted from being concentrated in areas such as Shanshan and Shule during the Han Dynasty to expanding across a wider region during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, eventually forming a Gaochang-centered pattern in the Tang Dynasty. Architectural styles evolved from the simplicity of domed stupas to diversification and then to standardization. The number of niches increased from none to many before decreasing again, while the proportions of the stupa bases gradually increased. This evolution highlights the transition of stupa styles from a singular form to diversification, eventually achieving standardization in the Tang Dynasty. This transformation not only reflects the optimization of the temple layout, gradually shifting from a stupa-centered to a Buddha hall-centered structure, but also illustrates the evolution of stupas from symbols of the Buddha’s tomb to carriers for Buddha statues and ultimately to representations of the Mount Sumeru cosmological concept. This transition also mirrors the shift in Buddhist beliefs, evolving from Theravāda to Mahāyāna Buddhism and then returning to Theravāda practices. This not only facilitated the regionalization of stupa forms and the integration of artistic styles but also provided a significant medium for cultural exchange between China and the West.
Keywords: Han and Tang Dynasties; Western Regions; stupa; architectural style; evolution Han and Tang Dynasties; Western Regions; stupa; architectural style; evolution

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Wu, J.; Yan, W. Architectural Evolution of Stupas in the Western Regions During the Han and Tang Dynasties. Buildings 2025, 15, 1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071056

AMA Style

Wu J, Yan W. Architectural Evolution of Stupas in the Western Regions During the Han and Tang Dynasties. Buildings. 2025; 15(7):1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071056

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wu, Jing, and Wei Yan. 2025. "Architectural Evolution of Stupas in the Western Regions During the Han and Tang Dynasties" Buildings 15, no. 7: 1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071056

APA Style

Wu, J., & Yan, W. (2025). Architectural Evolution of Stupas in the Western Regions During the Han and Tang Dynasties. Buildings, 15(7), 1056. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071056

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop