Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda

Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda

The Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda is situated on the north bank of the Chang River, east of Baise Bridge outside Xizhimen in Haidian District, Beijing. It is commonly known as the Five Pagoda Temple Pagoda because it features five small stone pagodas built on a high platform. It is among China’s first batch of key cultural relics under state protection. The temple where the pagoda stands, Zhenjue Temple, was originally built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, to avoid the naming taboo of Emperor Yongzheng (Yinzhen), it was renamed Dazhengjue Temple. The temple was destroyed in the early 20th century. The pagoda was constructed in the ninth year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1473), modeled after the design of the Buddha Gaya Stupa in India (a memorial stupa built at the site where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment on Vulture Peak).

This type of stupa, featuring five towers built atop a high platform, is called a Diamond Throne-style pagoda. In terms of form, the Diamond Throne-style pagoda originates from Indian architectural styles.

However, in terms of structure (such as the short eaves on the throne, bracket sets, and the glazed pavilion on top of the throne), it clearly exhibits traditional Chinese architectural characteristics, making it a creative masterpiece that blends Chinese architecture with foreign cultural influences. Among the few surviving examples of this type of pagoda in China, those in Beijing include the Qingjingjingcheng Pagoda at Xihuang Temple, the Diamond Throne Pagoda at Biyun Temple, and the Diamond Throne Pagoda at Zhenjue Temple. Among these, the Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda is the earliest in age and the most exquisitely designed.

Features

The architectural form of the Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda originates from the great stupa of the Buddha Gaya in India. However, compared to the Indian Diamond Throne pagodas, it has significant differences. The Diamond Throne of the Indian Buddha Gaya stupa is relatively low, with the central tower among the five towers being particularly tall, while the surrounding four towers are much shorter. The Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda, however, developed upon the design of the Indian Buddha Gaya stupa, incorporating traditional Chinese architectural elements. The overall scale of the Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda is smaller than that of the Indian Buddha Gaya stupa, but the Diamond Throne portion has been heightened. The five towers on the throne have more balanced heights, with only the central tower slightly taller, creating harmonious proportions. Moreover, all five towers adopt the architectural style of the closely layered stone pagodas of the Tang Dynasty. A covered pavilion, which provides shelter from wind and rain, has been built at the entrance of the pagoda platform, blending naturally with the five towers. This not only preserves the architectural artistry of the entire Diamond Throne Pagoda but also enhances its charm and enriches its Chinese architectural character. The Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture absorbing foreign architectural culture and has become one of Beijing’s unique ancient structures.

Structure

The interior of the Zhenjue Temple Pagoda is built with bricks, while the exterior is entirely clad in blue-white stone. The lower part consists of a slightly rectangular Sumeru pedestal-style stone base. The outer perimeter of the base is carved with Sanskrit characters, Buddha images, ritual implements, and other decorative patterns. Above the base is the body of the Diamond Throne, which is divided into five tiers. Each tier features projecting stone short eaves, with the edges of the eaves carved with tubular tiles, drip tiles, rafter ends, and brackets. Below the short eaves, the perimeter is lined with Buddha niches, each housing a seated Buddha statue. The niches are separated by stone pillars carved with floral motifs, and the pillar capitals feature bracket sets supporting the short eaves. On the north and south sides of the throne, there is a arched gate each, leading into the pagoda chamber. The arch surfaces are carved with images of garudas, lions, elephants, peacocks, and flying goats. Above the southern arched gate is embedded a stone plaque inscribed with the text: “Imperially Commissioned Diamond Throne Pagoda, Built on the Second Day of the Eleventh Month in the Ninth Year of the Chenghua Era of the Great Ming.” The southern arched gate leads into the pagoda chamber, which contains a square central pillar. Each of the four sides of the pillar has a Buddha niche, though the original Buddha statues are no longer present. On the east and west sides of the passage room, there are 44 stone steps each, spiraling upward to the covered pavilion on top of the throne. The pavilion is built with glazed bricks in a wooden-style structure. Both the north and south sides of the pavilion have an arched gate each, leading to the terrace on top of the throne, which is surrounded by stone railings.

To the north of the glass-covered pavilion are five closely layered small stone pagodas. These small pagodas are square-shaped, with the central one being taller, featuring thirteen tiers of eaves. Its top is a copper-made inverted-bowl-style finial. Legend has it that the five golden Buddha statues brought by Indian monks are enshrined inside this central pagoda. The four corner pagodas are slightly shorter than the central one, with eleven tiers of eaves, and their finials are made of stone. The carvings on the five small pagodas are concentrated on the Sumeru pedestal below the eaves and the first tier of the pagoda body, featuring patterns similar to those on the throne. The central small pagoda uniquely has a pair of Buddha footprints carved on the front center of its pedestal, symbolizing the Buddha’s presence across the world.

The entire pagoda is divided into two parts: the throne and the five pagodas. The lower part is a rectangular brick-constructed arched vault structure, i.e., the Diamond Throne. It measures 18.6 meters in length (north-south), 15.73 meters in width (east-west), and 7.7 meters in height, with a total height of 17 meters. It is divided into six tiers, with the lowest being the Sumeru pedestal. Each successive tier tapers inward by 0.5 meters from the bottom up. Each tier features four walls with short eaves, totaling five tiers of eaves. The area below the short eaves is densely packed with Buddha niches, each housing a seated Buddha statue. The central north-south axis of the throne has an arched gate, above which is a plaque inscribed with “Imperially Commissioned Diamond Throne Pagoda.” The interior of the throne is built with bricks, while the exterior is paved with white marble. The interior of the throne is a corridor-style chamber, with 44 stone steps spiraling upward to the top platform. To the south of the central pagoda is a glazed covered pavilion with a lower square and upper round structure and two-tiered eaves. This is the exit of the staircase, and the top of the pavilion features a royal symbol, the “coiled dragon caisson ceiling.”

On the terrace atop the throne, there are five stone pagodas—four small and one large. These are square-shaped, closely layered small pagodas, all assembled from thousands of carved stone blocks. The central large pagoda has thirteen tiers and is about eight meters tall. The four corner pagodas each have eleven tiers and are about seven meters tall. The five pagodas symbolize the “Five Directional Buddhas.” Each pagoda sits on a Sumeru pedestal, with Buddha niches and statues carved around the eaves. Legend has it that the five Vajradhatu golden Buddha statues are buried beneath the five pagodas. The five pagodas are surrounded by stone railings that are 0.66 meters high and 0.12 meters thick. The tops of the five pagodas each have a small inverted-bowl-style finial, consisting of a lotus base, spire, canopy, and gem. The central large pagoda’s finial is made of copper, while the other four are made of stone.

The throne of the Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda is richly decorated with carvings, mostly featuring Buddhist themes.

The Diamond Throne Pagoda is built on a square stone platform. The throne itself is square-shaped, with the lowest part being the plinth. Above the plinth is a large Sumeru pedestal. At the waist of the Sumeru pedestal, carvings depict the Four Heavenly Kings, the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Arhats, lions, elephants, horses, peacocks, and the great roc (garuda). There are also high-relief carvings of vajra pestles, vases, plaques, and the Eight Buddhist Emblems. The lions, elephants, horses, peacocks, and great roc are said to be the mounts of the Five Buddhas. It is believed that the lion is the mount of Vairocana; the elephant, of Akshobhya; the peacock, of Maitreya; the horse, of Ratnasambhava; and the great roc (garuda), of Amoghasiddhi.

On the upper and lower beams of the Sumeru pedestal’s waist, Sanskrit and Tibetan scripts are carved in relief. The content is a New Year’s greeting poem composed by Phags-pa in the fourth year of the Zhongtong era (1263) during the Yuan Dynasty, addressed to Kublai Khan, titled “Auspicious Ocean Greeting.” The greeting is written in both Sanskrit and Tibetan, arranged vertically, in poetic meter, with each line containing either nine or seven characters, totaling forty-four lines. The greeting begins to the right of the main southern gate, extends eastward around the throne, and ends to the left of the gate. The main theme compares the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) to the auspicious ocean, suggesting that all worldly blessings stem from the Three Jewels. This greeting was partially modified during the Ming Dynasty. The purpose of carving this greeting on the throne was to bless the Ming Dynasty and the emperor with eternal peace and prosperity. The Tibetan script carving on the throne is the only surviving Tibetan relief stone carving in Beijing, holding significant cultural relic value.

On the upper and lower beams of the Sumeru pedestal, lotus petals are carved in relief. The body of the Sumeru pedestal is divided into five tiers of Buddha niches on each side, separated by short eaves. Each tier is further divided into many small niches, housing seated Buddha statues. The expressions of the Buddha statues are serene, but their hand gestures vary. In total, 384 Buddha statues are carved in relief on the four sides of the Diamond Throne.

The Diamond Throne Pagoda employs an ancient Chinese carving technique known as “reduced-ground flat relief” (the original term includes a character not found in modern dictionaries). In this method, the raised main carving surface and the recessed “ground” are both flat. Then, fine and smooth lines are carved with pointed tools on the raised surfaces, making the main figures more vivid and providing a certain sense of three-dimensionality. The carving layout uses traditional symmetrical composition, highlighting the main content and achieving an elegant and refined artistic effect.

On the south and north sides of the Diamond Throne, there is an arched gate each. Above the southern arched gate is embedded a white marble plaque inscribed with the large characters “Imperially Commissioned Diamond Throne,” dated “the Second Day of the Eleventh Month in the Ninth Year of the Chenghua Era of the Great Ming.” The arch surface is carved with reliefs of the great roc (garuda), lion, elephant, peacock, and flying goat. Inside the arched gate is a square pagoda chamber, with a square central pillar in the middle. The chamber’s ceiling is arched. Around the central pillar are four Buddha niches, each housing a Buddha statue. The one facing south is Shakyamuni Buddha; the one facing east is Bhaisajyaguru, the Buddha of Medicine and the master of the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World; the one facing west is Amitabha Buddha, the master of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; and the one facing north is Dipankara Buddha, the legendary teacher of Shakyamuni. All four Buddha statues are in the seated meditation posture. On the east and west sides of the chamber, there are arched passageways with stone steps spiraling upward. Due to the narrow passages, only one person can ascend or descend at a time. At the exit of the steps is a round-domed, square-eaved covered pavilion. The roof and eaves of the pavilion are covered with yellow and dark green glazed tiles. Inside the pavilion, there is a coiled dragon caisson ceiling, hinting to visitors that this site was once a royal temple.

On the terrace stand five square-shaped, closely layered stone pagodas. The bodies of the pagodas are built with bricks, while the exteriors are clad with blue-white stone slabs. The central pagoda is 8 meters tall with thirteen tiers, while the four corner pagodas are each 7 meters tall with eleven tiers. It is said that the five golden Buddha statues presented by the Western Region monk Bande were enshrined in these five pagodas. Stone railings surround the terrace.

Below the five pagodas are Sumeru pedestals, with high-relief carvings of lions, elephants, peacocks, and horses on the waists of the pedestals. Each side is divided into three sections by a vajra pestle at the center. The central section features three blessing plaques, flanked by pairs of lions lying down with one foreleg raised, as if cheering for the emperor’s longevity. The side sections each have a reclining elephant, appearing particularly docile. On the upper and lower beams of the Sumeru pedestal, lotus petals in the Ming Dynasty style are carved. At the center of the front of the southern side of the central pagoda’s pedestal, there is a pair of raised Buddha footprints, with the soles facing outward, resting on blooming lotuses. Surrounding them are the Eight Buddhist Emblems and scrolling vine patterns. Why are Buddha footprints carved on the pagoda? There are two explanations. One suggests that before his passing, Shakyamuni Buddha stood on a large rock and left his final teachings to all beings. Later, his disciples carved the shape of his footprints on the spot as a memorial. Another explanation says that after Shakyamuni’s death, when his body was to be cremated, the fire would not ignite until Mahakasyapa arrived. Upon his arrival, the Buddha’s feet appeared from the coffin, and the fire ignited. To commemorate this, the footprints were carved on the pagoda. According to *Scenic Spots of the Imperial Capital*, “The central pagoda bears two footprints; others are mere impressions. These are raised, with spiral patterns and lotus bases, symbolizing footsteps sprouting lotuses.” These raised Buddha footprints are unique in Beijing temples; others are carved in intaglio. In the stele forest of the Stone Carving Museum, there is a stele with a line-engraved Buddha footprint, accompanied by inscriptions about the footprints.

Above the Sumeru pedestal is the pagoda body. At the junction of the first tier and the pedestal, a ring of downward-facing lotus petals is carved. The first tier of the pagoda body is relatively tall, with an arched Buddha niche in the center of each side. Each niche houses a seated Buddha statue, flanked by standing bodhisattva statues with joined palms, guarding the Buddha serenely. Beside the bodhisattvas are patterned sal trees bearing fruit, symbolizing the Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment.

Above the first tier of the pagoda body are closely layered eaves. The eave sections are carved from white stone in imitation of wooden eaves, achieving remarkable realism. Between the eaves, each tier of the pagoda body features numerous seated Buddha statues in relief. The five pagodas together house over a thousand Buddha statues, truly earning the name “Thousand Buddha Pagoda.” At the four corners of the eaves, square copper bells in Mongolian-Tibetan style are hung.

The finial at the top of the pagoda is a small inverted-bowl-style structure. The central pagoda’s finial is made of copper, while the other four are made of stone. Their designs are unique and distinctive. The architecture of the Zhenjue Temple Diamond Throne Pagoda

The Diamond Throne and the pagoda body are richly decorated with carvings. The entire Diamond Throne Pagoda can be considered a large-scale carved artwork. It is the earliest surviving Diamond Throne-style pagoda in China, featuring the most exquisite carvings. It is an outstanding representative of Ming Dynasty architectural and stone carving art, as well as a successful example of combining Chinese and foreign architectural forms.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level