Art Analysis: The One Pillar Pagoda

A cultural object I chose is Chùa Một Cột, also known as the One Pillar Pagoda. The One Pillar Pagoda is a historic Buddhist temple located in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Emperor Ly Thai To commissioned the temple to be constructed during the Ly dynasty. The original pagoda was destroyed by the French Union force in 1954. The following year, the government renovates the One Pillar Pagoda. The formal elements the replica pagoda contains are tactile texture and form, outline, space, and color. “Tactile texture consists of physical surface variations that can be perceived by the sense of touch. Sculptures often have distinctive tactile textures…” (Lazzari 33). This interprets that three- dimensional art with a physical form can be touched. “An outline follows the outer edges of the silhouette of a three- dimensional form with uniform line thickness” (Lazzari 26). This demonstrates that the outline indicates that the shape of the object. Three- dimensional art has space
The roof is shaped and curved like a lotus flower with 8 petals. Lotus flowers are considered Vietnam’s national flower. “To the Vietnamese, lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolizes the purity, serenity, commitment and optimism of the future as it is the flower which grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty” – (Lotus – Vietnam’s national flower, a symbol of divine beauty). “The outer square-shaped circle represents Yin while the round pillar represents Yang… This is law of circulation of universe” (One Pillar Pagoda, the most unique architecture). Yin and Yang have many different meanings, but in general, they are opposites. On top of the roof, there are two dragons. In Asia cultures, dragons are usually a symbol of power and good luck. Emperor Ly Thai To commission this pagoda to be created similar to a vision that foreshadow a fortunate