One day after the snowfall, there were many puddles near the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara. As the five-story pagoda was lit up, its reflection dimly appeared on some puddles. Scarcely people noticed the subtle and trancient beauty of the reflection.
This pagoda is the symbol of Nara and the second tallest at 50 meters in Japan. In spite of their height, no five-story pagodas have been reported to have collapsed in earthquakes. The pagodas were built flexibly. During the earthquakes, each floor moves independently. Some shake from left to right and others shake right to left as if the pagodas performed a snake dance. The flexibility of the pagodas help absorb and spread out the fierce energy of the earthquakes. Don't you think it is amazing the ancient builders had already known this earthquake-suppression technology? Today's modern high-rise buildings are built based on the same technology used in the ancient pagodas!
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Entrance to Great Buddha's World
