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During the restoration of iron cultural relics, the removal of rust from these artifacts is necessary. However, this rust removal process may lead to inconsistent local color on the iron relics. To address this, mending materials are applied to treat the surface, ensuring consistent local color. In the surface treatment of iron cultural relics, a significant challenge lies in modulating the color of these mending materials. The corrosion products of Yuquan Iron Pagoda are mainly Fe3O4, γ-FeO(OH), α-FeO(OH) and α-Fe2O3, with contents of 13.1, 16.1, 40.2 and 30.6%, respectively. Due to their structural stability and suitable color characteristics, Fe3O4 and α-Fe2O3 are selected as the primary raw materials for the repair material. This study employs machine learning methods to predict the color of mending materials corresponding to varying contents of α-Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and epoxy resin. The Artificial Neural Network (ANN), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boost Machine (LightGBM) algorithms are utilized to develop the model, and the predictive performance of these three algorithms is compared. XGBoost exhibits the best prediction performance, achieving a square correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.94238 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.68485. Additionally, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method is employed to analyze the most crucial raw material affecting the color of mending materials, which is identified as Fe3O4. The study illustrates the specific process of employing this model by applying it to the surface treatment of the Yuquan Iron Pagoda, demonstrating the practicality of the model. This model can be applied to assist in the surface treatment of other iron cultural relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the correlation between religions and cities is conducive to understanding the role of worship in shaping human settlements. Mrauk-U, the capital of the Arakan Kingdom in Southeast Asia during the 15th–18th centuries, was once a regional Buddhist center, and the pagodas distributed throughout this city demonstrate the visible influence of Buddhism. The purpose of this study is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the significance of Buddhism in Mrauk-U by exploring the correlation between the pagodas and the urban space. Based on first-hand spatial data, historical maps, and archaeological studies, the spatial distribution characteristics of the pagodas in Mrauk-U were analyzed using the methods of spatial and literature analysis. Their relationships with the urban structure, mountains, water systems, and open space were visualized and examined using the GIS platform; then, the hidden historical mechanisms were investigated. This study concludes that Mrauk-U's pagodas, as urban images, have shaped its sacred urban landscape system, revealing that Buddhism played an important role in shaping Mrauk-U's physical space and social and cultural characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a comparative analysis of Buddhist sacred structures throughout Asia, focusing on the historical development, regional disparities, and the cultural sinification process of stūpas, caityas, and pagodas. Specifically, it delves into the origins, definitions, and terminologies of early Buddhist monuments, such as stūpas/mahācetiyas and caityas/cetiyas, emphasizing their Indian origins. The research further explores the adaptation and reinterpretation of these original Indian concepts as they spread to East Asia, morphing into new forms, such as pagodas and Buddha halls. It examines the subtle shifts in terminology and the altered meanings and functions of these monuments, from their Indian origins to their sinified representations in East Asia. The transformation of Indian Buddhist monuments through local culture and technology into East Asian architectural forms is investigated, offering a detailed perspective on the dynamic transformation of sacred spaces in Buddhism. This illustrates the religion's adaptability and integration with the local cultures of ancient East Asia. By analyzing the terminologies and symbolic meanings associated with the architectural transition from stūpa to pagoda, the study argues that sinicized ritual spaces in East Asia have adopted architectural types from pre-Buddhist traditions to represent Indian spaces, thereby highlighting the nuanced changes and the continuous adaptation of sacred Buddhist architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a critical review of the results of the Asuka Historical Museum's excavation of the Asukadera wooden pagoda site in Japan since 2015, and its implications for Buddhist cultural exchange in East Asia. The second section examines the Asuka Historical Museum's categorization and scientific analysis of the beads, pearls, horse gear, earrings, gold and silver artifacts, mica, and śarīra containers. We assert that most objects excavated from the Asukadera wooden pagoda site are relics from the Asuka era (538–710), when the pagoda was first established in 593, and only a limited number of artifacts, such as the śarīra [relics] container, were added after the wooden pagoda was burned down in 1196. The third section compares the archeological remains from the Asukadera wooden pagoda site and the reliquary objects from the Paekche Wanghŭng-sa site (577) and Mirŭk-sa site (639), which have been conventionally considered to be its models. What the relics from these three historical sites have in common is that they include clothing accessories nobles wore as they participated in the Buddhist rituals of enshrining the śarīra in a wooden pagoda. However, some differences in the metallic craft items, such as crowns and belts, were still found between Paekche and Japan, which was due to the difference in costume styles in the respective countries at the time. Also, horse gear and lamellar armor unearthed from Asukadera sites was not found in Paekche temple sites, but is similar to earlier Japanese kofun (megalithic tumuli) grave goods, which provides evidence that as Buddhism was transferred to Japan from Paekche, it was not accepted in completely the same form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pagodas and pavilions (ge 閣) are the most popular and representative multi-story buildings since Buddhism was introduced to China. While providing visitors with a new visual experience, they have also largely reshaped the urban space and skyline in medieval China. The former originated from India and Central Asia and was transformed in China, developing a unique style; The latter originated more from the creation of Chinese architects and became a model of typical Chinese-style Buddhist architecture. Briefly, the pagoda matured earlier than the pavilion, and continuously developed while maintaining its basic style; the pavilion-style Buddhist architecture gradually developed later and finally matured after the Tang and Song dynasties (618–1276), partially presenting a different spatial logic from the pagoda, and bringing a new visual experience. In my opinion, although the pavilion may not necessarily be as large as the pagoda in terms of volume and absolute height, it can provide believers with greater visual impact in the internal space for worship, due to the cross-story giant Buddhist statues; the closer integration of Buddha statues and architecture makes it replace or share the core position of the pagoda in some monasteries and even become the visual center of the entire religious space. Due to the existence of the pavilion, viewers can not only worship the Buddhist statues on a two-dimensional plane or by looking up at the statues from the bottom, but have also gained a three-dimensional perspective, to worship directly at the Buddha's shoulders, neck, and head. In the Buddhist grottoes, the layout of the early single-layer or multi-layer horizontally distribution of caves on cliff was also changed due to the excavation of the cross-layer giant statue grottoes, covered by multi-story pavilion-style buildings, providing viewers with a visual experience similar to that of the pavilions of great statues. Additionally, there is a new visual experience of worshiping the Buddha in a vertical circle, in cases such as Bamiyan and the Leshan Giant Buddha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion involves expressing beliefs, performing practices, and obeying norms about what is considered sacred and worthy of worship. While some argue that religion has become irrelevant due to the widespread influence of secularism and scientific reasoning, many still find comfort in the sacred. Scientific research has shown that religion can positively impact health and safety, especially during disasters. Accordingly, religion plays a crucial role in one's wellbeing. In the Philippines, the sound of church bells calls for parishioners to gather and celebrate, and acts as a warning system for different types of danger, such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, raids, uprisings, and fires. Filipinos are warned to leave their houses and come to the church to take shelter. Thus, churches have been considered evacuation centers and loci for disaster risk-reduction undertakings. The proponents conducted a qualitative study investigating the disaster risk management strategies developed and implemented by St. Martin of Tours Parish Church in Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines, during the "Pagoda sa Wawa" fluvial festival, where safety measures and crowd control are essential in maintaining a prayerful and peaceful experience. The objective of the study was to investigate how festival organizers prioritize the safety of devotees after a tragedy occurred 30 years ago, which resulted in the deaths of 266 people. Furthermore, this study explores the precautionary measures taken during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing devotees' compliance and resilience for the common good. This study utilized a tripartite method, including reviewing relevant literature, participating in a pagoda fluvial parade, and conducting semi-structured interviews. The results were presented in a format that consisted of context, content, and challenges for the sake of coherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vajrasana pagoda is the only stone overturned-bowl pagoda among the 12 existing Vajrasana pagodas built during the Ming Dynasty in the Guandu District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. The location of the Vajrasana pagoda is in an earthquake-active zone with high rainfall. The small towers on the upper side were damaged by an earthquake in 1696 AD. All the stone statues representing religious figures have blistered and may peel further due to external factors, such as sunshine and rainfall. To assess the structural stability of the blistering, we employed 3D laser scanning to record the building's geometry over time. Subsequently, X-ray diffraction, thin section identification, and uniaxial compressive strength tests were conducted on the pagoda stone to reveal physical–mechanical properties. Finally, a finite element model was constructed to analyze stress and displacement in various scenarios. The results revealed: (1) Blistering on the pagoda stone is secure under self-gravity and heavy rainfall. (2) In an earthquake, the upper blistering near the junction of two sides may break. (3) A 3D color deviation model of blistering over 8 months showed peeling and bursting within the finite element simulation's predicted range. This research offers a fresh approach to stone tower preservation, shifting from reactive measures to proactive prevention and prediction. These methods and concepts hold relevance for stone towers in similar high-rainfall and earthquake-prone regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou, China, has a large number of brick carvings from the Southern Song Dynasty (1152 ce), covering an area of 464 m2. However, the exquisite brick carvings in the Liuhe Pagoda have deteriorated due to natural weathering and a high‐humidity environment. Through laboratory analysis and on‐site nondestructive testing, the physical and chemical properties of the brick carvings of Liuhe Pagoda were investigated, and the weathering mechanism of the brick carvings was further analyzed. The brick carving of Liuhe Pagoda is composed of brick, white plastering and black coating. CaCO3 is the main component in white plastering, and the black coating on the top surface contains Chinese lacquer. The weathering products of the brick were analyzed and a trace of CaSO4.2H2O was found. In addition, the brick carvings with high water content have low Leeb hardness and severe weathering. Therefore, water and soluble salt are the main factors in weathering of the brick carvings of the Liuhe Pagoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soc Trang province is located south of the Hau River in the Mekong Delta region. The province is home to ethnic groups including Kinh, Khmer, and Hoa. Each ethnic group has different cultural values, contributing to enriching the local cultural diversity; the Kinh people are the most dominant ethnic group of the total population in the region. In the cultural institutions of the Kinh people in Soc Trang, temples and pagodas have been an integral part of residents' daily lives for centuries. In addition to their main role as a place where people share their cultural beliefs and religious practice, temples and pagodas are also sites where people meet and share agricultural knowledge. To gain further insight into this phenomenon, this study used both in-depth interviews and questionnaires to examine how different forms of intellectual assets and agricultural practice knowledge have been explicated and passed down from generation to generation within the examined communities. Moreover, this study also attempts to explore the importance of cultural and religious sites for local communities, and their critical impact on the community attachment and management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hairpins decorated with motifs related to Guanyin, the most popular bodhisattva in Chinese culture, emerged as a new type of head accessory during China's Ming dynasty (1368–1644). These hairpins have been found in tombs as burial objects and in pagodas as religious offerings. Records of their use have been captured in novels, travel notes, confiscatory inventories, burial arrangements, and ancestral portraits. Guanyin hairpins were used flexibly between religious and everyday domains, being both women's accessories and a popular deity. They allow for an exploration of how women's agency dynamically defined the functions of Guanyin hairpins in terms of aesthetic taste, self-appreciation, and religious practices. This diversity of uses further reveals that women not only relied on Guanyin for religious comfort, as current scholarship has established, but also as an expression of taste and appreciation, as reflected in how Guanyin was linked to women's life and identity in Ming China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexation behaviors of pagoda[n]arenes (n = 4, 5) with ferrocene, ferrocenium and analogues cobaltocenium were studied. The inclusion complexes of pagoda[n]arenes can protect ferrocenium from oxidation in organic solvents and improve the stability and oxygen resistance of ferrocenium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are widespread hardwood trees in the Northern Hemisphere and of high ecological, economic, and social values. Optimal experimental design of genetic trials is essential for accurate estimates of genetic parameters and improving the genetic merit of breeding stock. Here, we evaluate the use of post hoc row-column factors combined with spatial adjustment to improve genetic analyses of parents and individual trees in field progeny tests of plantation hardwoods, using cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) as an example. For tree height, post hoc incomplete blocking reduced ~14% more of the within-block environmental variance compared to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) model. Incomplete blocking also improved the heritability estimates for height by 7% to 14% compared to the original RCBD model. No clinal trend for growth breeding values was identified due to provenances. Our approach warrants the initial selection for height as early as age ~10 based on its moderate narrow-sense heritability of 0.2; however, diameter and volume need longer evaluation times. The post hoc incomplete blocking is more efficient and promising to improve the genetic analysis of Q. pagoda to minimize the environmental heterogeneity influences. Adjusting competition and spatial effects, including the distance principal components and autoregressive residual structure notably improves the model fit based on the observed reductions in AICs and BICs. Employing our approach is promising for hardwood genetic improvement in the southern USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on steady-state experiments, a three-dimensional (3D) simulation study under pulsation conditions was carried out. This was performed to study the effect of pulsation of the supply system on the atomization characteristics of a gas-centered swirl coaxial injector. The results indicated that the spray shape resembled a pagoda when the Klystron effect occurred. When the low-frequency pulsation (200 Hz) was applied to the liquid inlet, the peak of the exit pressure was close to the trough of the inlet mass flow rate. Meanwhile, the exit mass flow rate and pressure were approximately sinusoidal. There was no significant lag effect in the response of the exit mass flow rate to the inlet mass flow rate but with a small sawtooth-like oscillation. Increasing the amplitude of the liquid inlet disturbance amplified the exit mass flow rate fluctuation, which was greater than the set amplitude of the inlet pulsation. The dominant frequency of the injector exit mass flow rate and pressure variation was significantly less than the inlet pulsation frequency when the frequency of the liquid inlet pulsation was increased to 1000 Hz. This was due to the low-pass filtering effect of the annular slit. There was no significant change in the overall spray morphology for the gas inlet pulsation. By applying the same amplitude and frequency of pulsation to the gas and liquid inlets of the injector, the pulsation of the liquid inlet had a stronger effect on the injector exit spray than that of the gas inlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of stone sculptures in the form of statues, steles, and pagodas was arguably one of the most prominent forms of Buddhist devotion in early medieval China. The abundant Buddhist imagery and devotional inscriptions adorning their surfaces provide rich information on their creation, commission, consecration, and worship, which is essential for comprehending the local community's religious landscape. This paper employs a network analysis approach to visualize and analyze the spatial arrangement of Buddhist images on the surfaces of pagodas from Nannieshui 南涅水, Shanxi 山西 Province. Network analysis reveals that Nannieshui pagodas were commissioned and worshipped differently from other kinds of stone sculpture, as shown by its emphasis on the spatial and sequential order of Buddhist images depicted on the exterior of these pagodas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an investigation of two recently discovered paper sheets of the Incantation of Wish-Fulfillment from the Silla kingdom, this paper reveals that early Korea had more diverse forms of dhāraṇī practices than previously assumed. Through analyses of these incantation sheets, this paper contributes toward filling the gap in our current understanding of the material practice pertaining to the Incantation of Wish-Fulfillment of medieval East Asia. Previously, all known traces of material dhāraṇīs from early Korea, with just a few exceptions, were related to the Sūtra of the Pure Light Incantation enshrined in the relic crypts of pagodas—a practice that has little connection to contemporaneous Chinese dhāraṇī practice. However, the newly discovered Incantation of Wish-Fulfillment sheets, whose date this paper infers to be between the eighth and ninth century, show that Unified Silla had a dhāraṇī practice closely linked to coeval Chinese practice. The Incantation of Wish-Fulfillment sheets from Silla show the modification and continuation of Chinese dhāraṇī practice. Unlike the Chinese amulet sheets of the Incantation of Wish-Fulfillment that were buried in tombs, the Silla amulet sheets were likely enshrined in one of the pagodas erected on Mount Nam in Silla's capital. At the same time, they were placed in the pagoda to wish for good afterlives of the soldiers who died at the battle, suggesting that they had a mortuary function similar to those buried in Chinese tombs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of wooden pagodas is a very important task in the restoration of wooden pagodas. Traditionally, this labor has always been carried out by surveying personnel, who manually check all parts of the pagoda, which not only consumes huge manpower, but also suffers from low efficiency and measurement errors. This article evaluates the feasibility of combining portable 3D light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry to perform these inspection tasks easily and accurately. The wooden pagoda's exterior picture and inside point cloud are acquired using a UAV and a LiDAR scanner, respectively. We propose a feature−based global alignment method to register the site point cloud. The error equation of the column of observed values is utilized as the beginning value of the feature constraint for global leveling. The beam method leveling model solves the spatial transformation parameters and the unknown point leveling values. Then, the Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithm of computer vision is used to realize the fusion of the dense point cloud of the exterior of the wooden pagoda generated from multiple non−measured images by global optimization and the LiDAR point cloud of the interior of the wooden pagoda to obtain the complete point cloud of the wooden pagoda, which makes the deformation monitoring of the pagoda more detailed and comprehensive. After experimental verification, the overall registration accuracy of the Yingxian wooden pagoda reaches 0.006 m. Compared with the scanning point cloud data in 2018, the model is more accurate and complete. By analyzing and comparing the data of the second floor of the wooden pagoda, we knew that the inclination of a second bright layer and a second dark layer is still developing steadily. Overall, the western outer trough inclines thoughtfully, and the column frame slopes from southwest to northeast. Some internal columns showed a negative offset in 2020, and the deformation analysis of a single column was realized by comparing it with the standard column model. The main contribution of this method lies in the effective integration of UAV images and point cloud data to provide accurate data sources for good modeling. This research will provide theoretical and methodological support for the digital protection of architectural heritage and GIS data modeling. The analysis results can provide a scientific basis for the restoration scheme design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beginning of the construction of Japan's first large-scale Buddhist temple, Asukadera 飛鳥寺, in 588, marks an important turning point in the ancient history of Japan. The construction of a Buddhist temple was a major event through which Japanese people, who had believed in traditional indigenous religion, came to embrace Buddhism, one of the major world religions. Inscribed śarīra reliquaries were discovered from the wooden pagoda site at the Wanghŭng-sa 王興寺 in Puyŏ. According to these inscriptions, Wanghŭng-sa was built in 577, 11 years before the establishment of Asukadera in 588. Based on this data, both Korean and Japanese academics have raised the possibility that Wanghŭng-sa might have provided inspiration or even a model for Asukadera in Japan. In this paper, I briefly examine reliquaries and roof tiles that have been excavated from the wooden pagoda site within the Wanghŭng-sa site and the arrangement and characteristics of the temple's building sites, including the sites of the main hall and corridors. Next, I discuss the similarities and differences between ancient Buddhist temples in Korea and Japan by comparing Wanghŭng-sa with ancient Japanese temples such as Asukadera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrant religious institutions tend to be focal places of intercultural encounters, serving as spaces for performing national, ethnic and religious identities, as well as, dialoging and negotiating belonging within the majority society. Thiên Phúc, a Vietnamese-operated pagoda functioning in Poland, serves as an important factor in the Vietnamese migrant community affairs, at the same time remaining virtually unknown to a broader Polish public. Drawing on extensive fieldwork study results, we adapt an original perspective of a migrant religious institution as an active agent in negotiating belonging to various social contexts, namely the host society, the Vietnamese migrant community and the social space of Buddhist religious institutions. We point out to coherences and disjunctures between arguments formulated during the search for legitimisation from the diverse sources. We also reflect upon complex ways in which the negotiation strategies are related to Polish public discourse on the Vietnamese community, which tends to form two opposite arguments: one calling for better integration, the other for their isolation and invisibility. Doing so, we shed light on outcomes and limitations of particular strategies of negotiating belonging undertaken by an 'otherized' institution in the context of one of the most ethnically and religiously homogeneous societies in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous efforts have been made in last decade on fully Automated Operational Modal Analysis (AOMA) with field measurement. Considerable user interaction is required especially when parametric system identification methods are involved with Stability Diagrams (SD) for the modal identification. This paper proposes an improved procedure with multi-stage clustering to address this issue. It is generally applicable to any method that relies on SD for the modal identification. The proposed clustering framework offers advantages over traditional AOMA with reduced reliance on the threshold setting in the hierarchical clustering. It relies on hierarchical clustering to identify only one cluster center. This cluster center is then used as input for Max-min distance clustering to achieve adaptive clustering. The proposed Modal Evaluation Index can be employed to eliminate the effect of subjective bias to small dimensional clusters and to assess the validity of each representative mode identified from the cluster. Measured datasets from the Z24 bridge benchmark and the Yingxian wooden pagoda serve to illustrate the performance and effectiveness of this automation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of relics and gorintō (five-element pagodas) as objects placed in Buddhist statues gained currency in the late twelfth century. This article examines the deposits (nōnyūhin) placed by Fujiwara no Kanezane (1149-1207) in 1189 within the statue of Fukūkenjaku Kannon in the Nan'endō at Kōfukuji in Nara, one of the earliest examples to contain both relics and gorintō. The article unravels the intricate relationship between the contents of the inserted objects, the meaning of the statue, and the motives behind the placing of the deposits. On the one hand, the deposits in this statue were carefully selected to manifest Kanezane's conception of the sacred. On the other, they were intended to evoke a response from Fukūkenjaku Kannon to generate rebirth in Amida's pure land. The relic deposit was enshrined because of its connection to Pure Land rebirth and was to transform the statue into a shōjinbutsu (living buddha) that assumed an array of meanings: an icon containing relics, a nexus for salvation, and a miraculous manifestation of the deity. It is also suggested that Pure Land belief was a driving force behind the increase in using relics as nōnyūhin in the late twelfth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a World Cultural Heritage site with sacred landscape featuring an exceptional range of Buddhist art and architecture, much attention has been focused on the sustainable development of Bagan (Myanmar). Particularly, the monitoring of landscape surface subsidence and monument instability is of great importance to the protection and development planning of the Bagan heritage site. In this study, we applied high resolution TerraSAR-X imagery acquired from 2019 to 2020 for deformation monitoring based on the small baseline subset (SBAS) and persistent scatterer synthetic aperture radar interferometry (PSInSAR) approaches. We identified several hotspots and pagodas with displacement anomalies linked to land cover change and previous earthquakes. The cross comparison between SBAS and PSInSAR and the precision of height estimates derived by PSInSAR indicated a millimetric precision of the derived deformation products. The combination of the two multi-temporal SAR interferometry approaches satisfies the two-scale monitoring requirements from landscapes to monuments, particularly for large-scale World Heritage sites. The non-contact monitoring method has potential when traditional methods using field accessibility and surveillance are constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cast brass ewer was unearthed from the Shangfang Śarīra Stupa crypt at Qingshan Monastery. Most likely, it was made in the northwestern part of the South Asian subcontinent in the late seventh century. Integrating ancient Roman, Sassanian, and early Islamic styles, the shape of this ewer not only is a mixture of the elements of different eras and traditions but also reflects unique attributes. The multi-headed and multi-armed deities from Hinduism, especially Skanda, may have inspired the six-faced design on the body. Eventually, the ewer was taken to Chang'an by Indian or Kashmirian monks and buried in the pagoda's crypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Higgs branches of five-dimensional N = 1 rank-zero theories obtained from M-theory on two classes non-toric non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds: Reid's pagodas, and Laufer's examples. Our approach consists in reducing to IIA with D6-branes and O6-planes, and computing the open-string spectra giving rise to hypermultiplets. Starting with the seven-dimensional worldvolume theories, we switch on T-brane backgrounds to give rise to bound states with angles. We observe that the resulting partially Higgsed 5d theories have discrete gauge groups, from which we readily deduce the geometry of the Higgs branches as orbifolds of quaternionic varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient buildings have various geometric and material changes caused by the historical and natural factors, and their comprehensive detection has also been a more important challenge. This way, in this paper, a flexible, scientific approach from terrestrial laser scanning and hyperspectral imaging is provided for this issue. It is possible to flexibly and accurately detect some potential crisis, which cannot be found in some surface phenomena of historical buildings. Furthermore, one of the main characteristic of this method is that the time and place of the two data acquisition need not be limited, but they can be accurately fused. Another one of the main features is that the fusion data can synthetically detect geometric and material changes of historical buildings. This method was applied to the case study of the Beijing Tianningsi Tower, an extremely dazzling pearl of the Chinese Buddhist pagoda, on which the signs of deformation and restoration were found in the tower shape and in the tower-body sculpture. It was possible to assess the typical physical, chemical, and biological changes of historical buildings, to provide scientific basis for comprehensive research. The results demonstrate that this method is feasible and applicable for detecting changes of ancient buildings and is applied to similar research using more analytical methods for multisource data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analyses based on a three-locus nuclear data set (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, the 5′ end of the 28S, and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase I) supported the pagoda fungus (Podoserpula, Amylocorticiales) as a monophyletic group most closely related to species of Anomoporia, which is nonmonophyletic, and Amyloathelia. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of specimens sampled in Australia, Chile, China, Madagascar, and New Zealand divided Podoserpula into two major lineages: Clade A containing Australian and New Zealand collections designated P. pusio and the Chinese species P. ailaoshanensis, which have basidiospores with no reaction to Melzer's reagent, and Clade B, which includes a species described from Chile, P. aliweni, and specimens originating from Australia, Chile, Madagascar, and New Zealand with dextrinoid basidiospores. Podoserpula aliweni forms a unique branch in the phylogenetic tree and differs from its most closely related taxon by 1.8–2.1% in the ITS region. The new species exhibits a tree-like habit with a white to concolorous stipe-like base with the hymenophore's main subcylindrical axis bearing up to 18 superimposed pilei, slightly enrolled white margins shading from yellowish white to orange-yellow toward the center, and ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.0–4.5 × 3.5 µm. Ecologically, P. aliweni occurs during the rainy season, often gregariously on dried branches or wet soil under Nothofagus dombeyi or N. obliqua and has a distribution range of more than 600 km in southern Chile. This study extends the known distributional range and increases our knowledge on the phylogenetic diversity and taxonomy in Podoserpula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new way to compute the genus zero Gopakumar-Vafa invariants for two families of non-toric non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds that admit simple flops: Reid's Pagodas, and Laufer's examples. We exploit the duality between M-theory on these threefolds, and IIA string theory with D6-branes and O6-planes. From this perspective, the GV invariants are detected as five-dimensional open string zero modes. We propose a definition for genus zero GV invariants for threefolds that do not admit small crepant resolutions. We find that in most cases, non-geometric T-brane data is required in order to fully specify the invariants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a book review of "A Tale of Two Stūpas: Diverging Paths in the Revival of Buddhism in Hangzhou China" by Albert Welter. The book explores the Buddhism of the early Song dynasty, with a focus on the region of Hangzhou. It examines the material culture and built environment of the era, particularly the Yongming Stūpa and the Leifeng Pagoda. The author discusses the history of these structures, their destruction during the Cultural Revolution, and their revival as tourist attractions. The book provides a clear and readable narrative spanning over a thousand years and is a helpful starting point for further research on Hangzhou Buddhism. [Extracted from the article]

This paper introduced the origin of the Kuishan Pagoda and its role in "increasing architectural achievements and reinforcing scenic sights" of Xuzhou from the perspective of the city's Fengshui (geomancy). The round base of the pagoda was 16.7 meters in diameter. The octagonal pagoda had seven stories, with a height of 67 meters. Each story had 4 doors that face each other in pairs. From the second to the seventh story, the pagoda was decorated with brick-carved waist eaves, cornices, rafters, upward angles and tile ranges, which were rigorously and strictly designed and distributed. The outward-pointing waist eaves were narrow and short and boast exquisite shapes. The top of the pagoda pointed skywards and was decorated with interlayered metal wheels. The pagoda top with metal wheels appeared magnifi cent and demonstrated exquisite craftsmanship, adding a particularly imposing atmosphere to the pagoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhangzhou ceramics, coarsely potted with thick glaze and sandy feet, were mass-produced in southern Fujian during the late Ming and early Qing periods. The rise of the Zhangzhou kiln complex was an outcome of expanding maritime trade since the Jiajing period (1522–1566) and Zhangzhou production reached a climax in the Wanli period (1572–1620). The Fujianese workshops created a whole spectrum of porcelain products, ranging from monochrome pieces to blue-and-white and polychrome ones. Of the decorative vocabulary that is unique to Zhangzhou kilns, the pavilion and seal design (previously known as the "Split Pagoda" motif) is noteworthy for its decorative originality and transnational appeal. Through a close examination of typical Zhangzhou dishes with seal design, the paper points out that the intriguing theme fuses Daoist ideals with Confucian-recluses' pursuits. The pluralism in the symbolic meanings of the pattern enhances the marketability of this type of Zhangzhou ware. Around the 1650s, Japanese potters in the Yoshida workshops of Ureshino, Hizen province on the Island of Kyushu started to incorporate the Zhangzhou designs into their local decorative repertoire. But instead of faithfully imitating the seal pattern from the Fujianese prototype, Yoshida decorators seamlessly wove Japanese fashion into Chinese-inspired motifs. Popular designs from nearby Arita, the porcelain capital of Japan, further stimulated Yoshida artisans to create affordable fusion-style products for Southeast Asian markets that were yet to be dominated by prestigious Hizen porcelains. However, the efflorescence of Yoshida porcelains with seal design was rather short-lived due to limited native resources and fierce competition in and outside Kyushu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Das touristische Management heiliger Kulturerbestätten kommt der Quadratur des Kreises gleich. Heiliger Orte verschiedener Religionen wurden zu umkämpften Zonen: Gläubige, die aus dem Umfeld stammen sowie Pilger treffen auf säkulare Touristen. Der Fokus der vorliegenden Untersuchung liegt auf der Insel Bali. Jedes Jahr besuchen hunderttausende internationale Touristen und ungleich mehr Binnentouristen aus anderen indonesischen Inseln die hinduistischen Tempelanlagen. Diese – bekannt für ihre Pagodentürme und Tore – können als Verdinglichung der ‚Insel der Götter' gesehen werden. Das Hauptziel der Untersuchung ist es, unterschiedliche Perspektiven wichtiger Anspruchsgruppen herauszuarbeiten und gegenüber zu stellen. Das Projekt will sowohl den Diskurs über die touristische Nutzung heiliger Stätten bereichern, als auch Impulse für ein bewussteres Tourismusmanagement setzen, das die spirituellen und feinstofflichen Aspekte der ‚Attraktionen' stärker als bisher berücksichtigt. Summary: Touristic management with the objective of protecting sanctity of heritage attractions is like squaring a circle. Sacred places of different religions have become fields of conflicting encounters between organizations and pilgrims seeking sanctuary, with the competing role of tourist attractions. The focus of this study is on Bali where, every year, hundreds of thousands of international tourists and many more visitors from predominantly Muslim Indonesian islands visit the Hindu sanctuaries. The temples – famous for picturesque pagodas and gates – represent manifestations of Bali, known as the „Island of Gods." The main objective of the paper is to examine and compare different perspectives on Balinese temples based on expert interviews, participatory observations and the analysis of comments in a review portal. The research project should contribute to enriching the discourse on tourists' use of sacred sites and enable a more conscious management that not only focuses the compliance of cultural-religious rules, but also acknowledges subtle spiritual aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uniqueness of brick-carved cultural relics causes a higher requirement for restoration techniques and repair materials. Considering the weather resistance and compatibility with the original substrate bricks, three types of inorganic binders were selected as alternative options for brick carving restoration: Ca-based hydraulic lime, Si-based silica sol, and Mg-based magnesium oxychloride. Multiple experiments were conducted to investigate the compatibility of the replica bricks produced using these binders. The adhesive properties and infiltration reinforcement of the binders were also taken into consideration to evaluate the feasibility of these materials' application for the restoration of brick-carving cultural relics. The results showed that the Mg-based cementitious material led to the best performance, maintaining their original physical properties while restoring the original cohesion. A successful in situ test was conducted on the Southern Song brick carvings (1152 CE) inside the Liuhe Pagoda (Fig. 1 a) in Hangzhou. • Inorganic magnesium based cementitious materials can be used to repair weathered brick carvings, with effective results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZnO nanopagodas were prepared by an aqueous chemical downward process. • ZnO nanopagodas showed better photoelectrochemical performance than ZnO nanorods. • ZnO nanopagodas reduced the e-/h+ recombination and improved light absorption. • Ag nanoparticles over ZnO nanopagodas enhanced the photoconversion efficiency. Photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS) utilizing solar energy and photoelectrodes immersed in an electrolyte has sparked an increased interest in hydrogen production. The PEC-WS efficiency is enhanced by controlling the nanostructure of photoelectrodes and sensitizing them with plasmonic metals. This study shows how the transformation from ZnO nanorods to ZnO nanopagodas and the deposition of Ag nanoparticles improve the photocurrent and PEC conversion efficiency under sunlight. The deposition of an optimal amount of Ag nanoparticles over ZnO nanopagodas exhibited the highest photocurrent of 2.15 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE, while pure ZnO nanorods and nanopagodas achieved 0.90 and 1.43 mA cm−2, respectively. This extraordinary improvement in photocurrent density was thoroughly analyzed using various PEC and optical measurements as well as electromagnetic simulation. As a result, two main reasons for the improvement were derived. Firstly, ZnO nanopagodas can reduce the charge recombination rate due to the reduced structural defects and improve the light-harvesting ability due to their distinct superstructure characteristics. Secondly, the deposition of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles can improve the interfacial charge transfer and increase the ability to capture visible light due to their localized surface plasmon resonance effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commonly referred to in Chinese by the term jinglu , scriptural catalogs constitute a specific sort of Sinitic bibliographical literature that deals primarily with texts accepted in East Asian Buddhist circles as authoritative in matters of religion. The role that these catalogs played in the history of the Chinese Buddhist canon has become the subject of various important studies, but still oft-neglected are the functional places that such texts filled in the sphere of Buddhist devotional practice. To try to redress the balance, this essay brings into focus a small but significant group of Southern Song (1127-1279) Buddhist monuments in the Sichuan basin. Not only do these monuments allow us a rare glimpse into the devotional uses and symbolic functions of scriptural catalogs, but they offer a vantage point from which to view at least a part of what premodern Buddhists in the Sichuan basin actually believed and practiced. Résumé: Les catalogues de sutras, généralement appelés jinglu en chinois, constituent un type spécifique d'ouvrage bibliographique consacré aux textes considérés dans les milieux bouddhiques d'Asie orientale comme faisant autorité en matière religieuse. Le rôle joué par ces catalogues dans l'histoire des canons bouddhiques chinois a fait l'objet de travaux approfondis mais la place qu'ils occupent dans les pratiques dévotionnelles reste largement négligée. Afin de compenser un tel manque, cet article se concentre sur un petit groupe de monuments bouddhiques des Song du Sud (1127-1279) dans la plaine du Sichuan. Ces monuments nous offrent non seulement une perspective inédite sur les usages dévotionnels et les fonctions symboliques des catalogues de sutras, mais éclairent aussi d'un jour nouveau ce que les bouddhistes du Sichuan prémoderne croyaient et pratiquaient concrètement. 提要: 華言「經錄」者，係漢文書誌之一種，其列載文獻多為東亞佛教界視作宗教權威。該類書誌在漢文佛教藏經史上的角色雖已頻獲檢討，然鮮有學者留心其於佛教虔敬活動中所發揮的功用。為了補益相關研究，本文考察了一批見在四川盆地的南宋佛教文物。這些文物不僅使我們得以管窺經錄的虔敬用途與象徵功能，亦為瞭解當地部分前現代佛教信眾的觀念和行持提供了一個視點。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the study of four late to middle to late Tang Dynasty (781–907 CE) and one Song Dynasty (907–1279 CE) Buddhist sites which are set within a kilometre of one another to the south of the ancient centre of Rongxian (荣县), Zigong, Sichuan. The question addressed is whether these five religious sites could have existed as distinct entities, or if over time they became part of a unified whole. Traditionally such sites are considered as independent works of art divorced from their landscape and social context. Since the connections demonstrated in this paper indicate a unity of purpose we suggest that a more holistic approach to the study of such monuments is worthwhile. This paper proposes that although these sites were originally distinct entities during the Tang, they came to be connected by a pilgrimage route defined by the construction of a pagoda in the Song Dynasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on annual Boat Race that takes place to celebrate the Buddhist celebration called the Paung Daw Oo Pagoda festival in Mynmmar and in the country's Inle Lak . It mentions about the technique used by rowers and the tradition that includes beating of the drums. The article includes topics such as the significance of floating garden that includes tomatoes, tourism in the lake area, and the prayer offerings at the pagoda during this buddhist festival.

The optimization of cooling and ventilation systems is essential to the protection of ancient pagodas, which boast profound historical, cultural and tourism values. This calls for thorough investigation into the thermodynamic and flow heat transfer properties of the central airconditioning system (CACS) in the pagoda. In this paper, a thermodynamic model of the cooling tower is established in the principle of differential calculation, and verified through field test. On this basis, the author further discussed the impacts of drifting and reflux effect on the working performance of the cooling tower. The results show that: without considering the drifting effect, there is only a slight error between the measured inlet air enthalpy, inlet air temperature and inlet air relative humidity and the values simulated by the proposed model; in actual operation, the drifting of water vapour away from the cooling tower carries away some heat, leading to reduced temperature and increased relative humidity at the air inlet; the reflux ratio within the cooling tower is positively correlated with the water temperature, dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity at the outlet of the cooling tower, but negatively with the heat exchange amount of the tower, under different atmospheric dry-bulb temperatures, atmospheric relative humidities and gas-water ratios; the reflux of water vapour has a significant impact on the cooling performance of the cooling tower, and the impact is positively correlated to the reflux ratio. The research findings provide theoretical support for engineering applications like heating, cooling and ventilation in ancient pagodas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The homogenous and hybrid configurational isomers of pagoda[ n ]arenes are proposed and obtained by DFT calculations. • Electronic structure analysis reveals the π-electron rich nature within molecular cavity of pagoda[ n ]arenes. • Pagoda[ n ]arenes are able to accommodate various electron-deficient or organic conjugated guests besides cations. Studies on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of new macrocyclic host species have greatly promoted the development of supramolecular chemistry. Recently, pagoda[ n ]arenes (Pa[ n ]As), a class of anthracene-based macrocyclic arenes, were reported by Chen's group. Pa[ n ]As are inherently endowed with many fascinating properties. In order to fully understand Pa[ n ]As and expand their potential applications, the structures, properties, and supramolecular chemistry of Pa[ n ]As are systematically studied by using a computational approach. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, nine homogenous Pa[ n ]As (n = 4∼6) and six hybrid Pa[4]As are discussed in detail because of their rigid pagoda molecular frameworks and their lower energies. The frontier molecular orbitals and electrostatic potential maps reveal the nature of their electronic structures. Correspondingly, UV–vis spectra are predicted by time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations. Moreover, Pa[ n ]A molecules are capable of forming host‒guest complexes and self‒assemblies by noncovalent interactions. H-bonding, ion···pi, C H···pi, and van der Waals (vdW) interactions are addressed with the reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the solvent show that Pa[ n ]As are able to recognize guests and maintain a dynamic equilibrium in the form of host-guest complexes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel full 3D Distinct Element Limit Analysis approach for masonry structures. • Model specialized for massive masonry walls with complex 3D geometry. • Dissipation on quadrilateral interfaces between adjoining infinitely resistant hexahedrons. • Application on three historical masonry pagodas and evaluation of the seismic vulnerability. • Different failure mechanisms active varying masonry cohesion and seismic load direction. A 3D limit analysis model specialized in the analysis at the collapse of massive masonry structures subjected to seismic loads is proposed. The approach belongs to the wide family of distinct element methods, because is based on a discretization of the structure by means of infinitely resistant hexahedron elements and quadrilateral interfaces where all dissipation occurs. Any failure surface -after proper linearization- can be adopted for interfaces, as for instance a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with tension and compression cutoffs. Having discretized the continuum in such a way that internal dissipation is allowed only between adjoining elements, the corresponding linear programming problem necessary to estimate the collapse load, can be obtained through both a kinematic and static approach. The first is more straightforward and the primal problem provides a failure mechanism, interfaces plastic multipliers and collapse multipliers. By virtue of the duality theorem, the second lower bound approach is associated with the same failure load, also providing the internal forces acting on interfaces. The model is validated on three examples of historical value, namely-three pagodas in China, all characterized by complex 3D geometries and massive walls. The results show how the procedure proposed is able to provide fast estimations of the load carrying capacity under the application of horizontal seismic actions and how the corresponding failure mechanism is rather complex, thus precluding the utilization of simplified approaches on idealized geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A newly constructed astronomical time scale constrains the duration of the GICE to ∼ 0.82 Myr. • The duration of the Middle Ordovician stratigraphic gap in South China is ∼ 1.38 Myr. • Positive 13C carb excursions during the MDICE and GICE were associated with astronomical forcing. The Middle–Late Ordovician transition was one of the most critical periods throughout the Earth's history, and it involved paleoclimate changes and biological turnover. Here, we conducted cyclostratigraphic analysis on the magnetic susceptibility (MS) from the Kuniutan and Miaopo formations in the Zhenjin section and the Pagoda and Linhsiang formations in the Puxihe section in Yichang, South China. We constructed an astronomical time scale to understand the astronomically forced paleoclimate changes during this key interval. Spectral analyses on the MS series show that the thickness ratios of different sedimentary cycles in the studied sections are consistent with those of Milankovitch cycles during the Middle and Late Ordovician. The floating astronomical time scale of the studied sections was constructed based on astronomical tuning to 405-kyr eccentricity cycles, providing an estimated duration of ∼ 0.82 Myr for the Guttenberg isotopic carbon excursion (GICE). A high-precision and continuous astronomical time scale has previously been established in the Ordovician marine sediments in the Tarim Basin. The cyclostratigraphic correlation of sedimentary successions between the South China Block and Tarim Basin reveals that the duration of the Middle Ordovician gap in South China is ∼ 1.38 Myr. Alignment of the maxima of the ∼ 1.2-Myr obliquity cycle and the 405-kyr eccentricity cycle may have resulted in increased weathering inputs and prolonged periods of ocean anoxia, pacing the enhanced organic carbon burials and the positive isotopic carbon excursion during the middle Darriwilian isotope carbon excursion (MDICE) and GICE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geomantic pagodas are evolved from Buddhist pagodas in the history of China. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, people attached importance to the imperial examination, so they were keen on construction of geomantic pagodas in landscapes to pray for good luck. This phenomenon was more obvious in southern China, especially in Guangdong and Jiangxi. In this paper, the location and spatio-temporal distribution of geomantic pagodas in Guangdong and Jiangxi were studied by using Google Earth and ArcGIS, combining with ASTER GDEM data. In addition, the effects of elevation, topographic profile and slope on site selection of geomantic pagodas were investigated to sum up the distribution and space environment characteristics of geomantic pagodas in Guangdong and Jiangxi, explore the relationship between geomantic pagodas structure and city landscape, and investigate the effects of spatio-temporal distribution of geomantic pagodas on city pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the history of the Shōkokuji Pagoda and reflects on the building's role in the remarkable career of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408). A small yet critical body of documents from the late fourteenth century sheds light on a compelling set of details regarding the 109-meter-tall monument's location, iconographic program, and ritual functions. The findings reveal a conscious impulse to mimic precedents set two centuries earlier by powerful ex-sovereigns of the Insei period (1180s-1280s). By building the Shōkokuji Pagoda, Yoshimitsu sought to create a context, both material and situational, within which the symbols and rituals of Buddhist kingship could be deployed to assert a status synonymous with dharma king. In doing so, he forged an anthropocosmic connection between himself and the divine, thereby perpetuating an architectural tradition that can be compared to the great Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms of Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]