Xiudaozhe Pagoda

Xiudaozhe Pagoda

Xiudaozhe Pagoda is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai.

Xiudaozhe Pagoda: Located at the entrance of West Sheshan Forest Park in Songjiang District, Shanghai.

According to the *Songjiang District Annals*, it is also called the "Moon Shadow Pagoda." Located on the eastern slope of West Sheshan, the pagoda has seven stories and eight sides, stands about 20 meters tall, and is built of brick and wood. The slender body and elegant shape resemble Hangzhou’s Leifeng Pagoda. It was built during the Northern Song Dynasty (976–984). At that time, there was the Chaoyin Nunnery on the mountain, and a Taoist cultivator named “Xiudao” lived at the foot of the mountain. He personally participated in the pagoda’s construction. After its completion, he set himself on fire, hence the name Xiudaozhe Pagoda. Later, the eaves, terrace, and surrounding corridors were all destroyed, and the spire also became tilted.

According to the *Songjiang Prefecture Annals* (Ming Dynasty, Zhengde era): Xiudaozhe Pagoda is located atop Sheshan. Xiudao once lived here and built the pagoda. Upon its completion, he piled up firewood and immolated himself. There is an inscribed stone tablet. Small note: Xu Shang’s annotation under the title mentions that Xiudaozhe was often accompanied by two tigers, suspected to be the Sage of Sheshan.

Furthermore, according to the *Songjiang Prefecture Annals* (Ming Dynasty, Zhengde era): Sheshan’s Puzhao Temple, also known as the Eastern Hermitage on the mountain, was established in the third year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty by the Taoist cultivator Cong. During the Zhiping era, it was granted the name Puzhao Teaching Monastery, and the temple adopted this name. The mountain also features the Taoist Pagoda, below which is the Moon Pavilion, and nearby is the Tiger Tree Pavilion. In Volume 17, *Tombs*, of the same book: The tomb of the Song Dynasty Taoist Cong is located beneath the southern ridge of Sheshan. Based on his recorded life story, Cong was from Suzhou, became a monk in Hangzhou, came to Shanghai in the second year of the Taiping Xingguo era, and built a hut on Sheshan. He passed away in the first year of Tianxi (1017) at the age of 74. Thus, it can be deduced that he was born in 944.

Analysis of the three records in the same book suggests that the Taoist Cong and the builder of Xiudaozhe Pagoda are the same person. Born in 944, he arrived on Sheshan in Songjiang in 977, built Puzhao Temple the following year, and also constructed the pagoda. This monk had legendary tales, such as being accompanied by tigers, which led to many folk legends. As for the claim that he immolated himself after building the pagoda, it contradicts Buddhist doctrines and is likely a distortion.

The *Songjiang District Annals* state the pagoda is about 20 meters tall, while the *Shanghai Cultural Relics and Museums Annals* record its height as 29 meters. Which one is correct?

In 1997, after expert evaluation, the Songjiang County People's Government approved the restoration of the pagoda. During the renovation, a heavenly palace chamber was discovered within the brick structure at the top of the pagoda. More than ten artifacts were unearthed, including bronze statues, coins, and jade ornaments from the Ming Dynasty and earlier. The restoration strictly followed the principles of cultural heritage preservation, using traditional materials and craftsmanship to rebuild the surrounding corridor, the eaves of each level, the terrace, and restore the spire. The project was completed in December 1998.

Check the stone stele erected by the Songjiang District Culture Bureau — is it Xiudaozhe Pagoda or Xiudaozhe Pagoda?

Most online information about Xiudaozhe Pagoda is copied from one another without any research. As for the description of Xiudaozhe Pagoda on Baidu Baike, it’s even more nonsensical.

Around Xiudaozhe Pagoda, there are over ten stone carvings. Judging by their style, they appear to be sacred way carvings from the Ming Dynasty, likely collected and preserved from ancient Ming tombs nearby. However, the surnames of the tomb owners have been lost, leaving only the stone carvings — a bit of a pity.

In 1962, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Songjiang County, and on April 27, 2002, it was listed as part of the seventh batch of Shanghai Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units.