pagoda
A monumental religious structure including South Asian stupa forms and East Asian towers with tiered projecting eaves.
A pagoda is a monumental structure generally built for an eastern religion such as Buddhism or Taoism. There are two basic types: South Asian stupas, (sometimes called pagodas) which are generally monolithic towers with a wide base and narrow peak, and East Asian pagodas, which are multi-tiered towers with projecting roof eaves at each level.
The stated scope includes two distinct forms rather than requiring every pagoda to have stacked roof tiers. The stupa form has a broad base narrowing toward the peak.
The East Asian tower form is articulated by projecting eaves at successive levels. Its religious and monumental character remains distinct from an ordinary stack of occupiable building floors.
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