Meiting Meilang Sisters’ Pagodas

The Meilang Sisters’ Pagodas, also known as the Twin Pagodas, are located in the southeast of Meilang Village, Meiting Township, Chengmai County, Hainan Province. They are ancient pagodas from the Yuan Dynasty. According to the ‘Zhengde Qiongtai Gazette’, Chen Daoxu of the Yuan Dynasty had two daughters. The elder daughter got married, and the younger daughter became a nun. He built these pagodas to commemorate his two daughters. The pagodas are 17 meters high. One has a hexagonal plane and multiple layers. Currently, there are six layers remaining, imitating the wooden structure of a pavilion-style building. Each layer has eaves connected to a flat seat. From the first to the third layer, there are 12 cylindrical columns under each eave, and dougong is set to support the fang. From the fourth layer onwards, only semicircular attached columns are faintly visible on the outer wall of each layer. There is an arched niche with no Buddha statue inside. In the center of the string seat, there is a seated statue with a crown carved. The other one has a square plane and seven layers. The exterior structure is the same as the upper pagoda but is more delicate. Each layer of the outer wall niche is carved with Buddha statues in different postures. The upper edge of the string seat is a continuous pattern of lotus petals. On four sides, there are relief carvings of auspicious beasts and Buddhist patterns such as elephants, lions, xiezhi, tigers, horses, and qilin. There are also strongmen carved at the corners to support it. The spire is a round jewel top. The two pagodas are 20 meters apart. Both have tall platforms standing in the mountain pool water. There are railings and steps around the platform. The overall shape of the pagodas is harmonious and beautiful, with changes to each other. Dozens of stone carvings and reliefs are exquisitely and meticulously carved, with vivid images. They reflect the social and secular life at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty and can be regarded as artistic treasures of stone pagodas in Qiongzhou.

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