JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2009, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (03): 83-86.doi: 10.3969/j.jssn.1000-2006.2009.03.019

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Wood identification of the wooden parts from the gildedpagoda excavated at Dabaoen Temple site in Nanjing

PAN Biao1, ZHAI Shengcheng1, QI Haining2   

  1. 1.College of Wood Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; 2.Nanjing Prefectural Museum, Nanjing 210093, China
  • Online:2009-06-18 Published:2009-06-18

Abstract: An archaeological excavation of the Dabaoen Temple site was presided by Nanjing Prefectural Museum in 2008. It is a worldshaking occurrence that one Northern Song Dynasty gorgeous gildedpagoda was discovered in an underground palace. The main body of the gildedpagoda was made of wood. Two woodenparts taken from the gildedpagoda were sampled and identified. The result showed that both parts were made of sandalwood (Santalum album) from India. Sandalwood is famously used in Buddhistic ceremonies and Buddhism sculptures in Southeast Asia, India and China. This discovery expresses that the site had significant meaning and high status in Buddhistic history.

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