Moshigou Pagoda

Moshigou Pagoda

Moshigou Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Liao Dynasty

Address: Located in Moshigou Village, Erdaobian Village, Hongyazi Township, 25 li northwest of Xingcheng Ancient City, Huludao City, Liaoning Province. It lies 10 li south of Baimiaozi Station on the Guangshan Railway.

The pagoda is an octagonal, hollow, closely-eaved structure, currently standing 17.4 meters tall. The outer perimeter at the base of the foundation platform has been completely destroyed.

The original form of the pagoda base is no longer visible, with only the upper shumai (upper scroll molding) and upper fang (upper square block) of the Sumeru pedestal remaining. The upper shumai features grey brick carvings of upside-down lotus petals, coated with white lime. The lower edge of the upper fang is adorned with brick-carved drum studs, and the corners are carved with auspicious cloud patterns. On the remaining brickwork of the Sumeru pedestal’s waist section, the horizontal brickwork forming the central panel (fangxin) and the corner decorations (zaotou) can still be seen. Three holes have been chiseled into the eastern, northeastern, and southwestern sides of the pagoda base, and the inner core of the pagoda has been hollowed out (currently filled with cement).

The pagoda body is built atop a layer of upside-down lotus petals on the upper fang of the base’s upper fang. The pagoda body has eight sides, each measuring 2 meters in length, with a cylindrical column at each corner. The middle of each facade features a brick-carved round arched door, divided into two panels, with circular door studs on the top and bottom, and door knockers on both panels, carved in the form of beast masks.

The pagoda eaves consist of up to nine layers counted from the pagoda body, each about 1 meter high. The eaves are formed by extending bricks stacked atop one another. Two “green-glazed tile mirrors” are inlaid in the middle, with a layer of white lime coating the surrounding surface. The bricks and tiles of the eaves have peeled off to varying degrees.

The finial base, spire, precious bottle, and finial rod at the top of the pagoda have long since been destroyed and fallen.

The inner wall of the pagoda core is hexagonal. The bottom is wider, with a diameter of 3.6 meters, while the top is narrower, with a diameter of about 1.5 meters, forming a hexagonal pyramid. The middle of each face shows protruding, rough gray markings. Evidence from the three chiseled openings and damaged remnants indicates that the wooden framework inside the pagoda core was hollowed out by later generations. It has all been refilled and sealed after restoration.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Liaoning Province

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units