Plinth

A plinth (tai ji) is a protruding platform underneath a building, serving as its base. Constructed entirely of bricks or stones, the plinth is often filled with earth, and its surface is paved with bricks or stones. With its form square and robust, the plinth is initially designed to prevent flooding, Later it evolved to play a key role in aesthetics and hierarchies. Most ancient Chinese buildings have a plinth, and the higher the architectural hierarchy, the more prominent and towering the plinth becomes.