Yuanying Pagoda

Yuanying Pagoda

Yuanying Pagoda is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai Municipality.

Yuanying Pagoda, also known as Xilin Pagoda or Chong'en Pagoda, is located in Songjiang Town, Songjiang District (now within Xita Lane on Zhongshan West Road). It was built during the Xianchun era (1265–1274) of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the 20th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1387) and renamed “Yuanying Pagoda.” In the 9th year of the Zhengtong reign (1444), the pagoda was relocated to behind the Buddhist hall. The pagoda is built of brick and wood, with an octagonal shape and seven stories, standing 46.50 meters tall, making it the tallest ancient pagoda in Shanghai. Originally designed in a pavilion style, each level featured eaves, balconies, and railings, but these were removed in 1965 due to disrepair. Today, only the surrounding corridor and brick structure remain. The internal staircase is made of stone steps hidden within the brick body. Each level has arched doorways on four sides that interconnect. The ground floor is surrounded by a corridor, with each brick face measuring 3.05 meters wide, narrowing slightly with each ascending level. Some bricks bear inscriptions such as “Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ren Mianzhi.” Ren Mianzhi lived from the Hongwu to Zhengtong eras of the Ming Dynasty and held positions such as Provincial Administration Commissioner of Fujian and Prefect of Huizhou, indicating that the brickwork dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1436).

In May 1992, the Shanghai Cultural Relics Management Committee, together with the Songjiang County Government, formed the Songjiang Xilin Pagoda Restoration Leadership Group and Restoration Office. Restoration work began in October 1993. The damaged spire was first removed, and over 50 cultural relics were discovered inside the finial, including gold and silver Buddha statues and jade figurines. In January 1994, within the “Heavenly Palace” beneath the inverted bowl of the spire, gold, silver, and bronze Buddha statues, jade discs, and jade rings were found. Over 500 more relics were unearthed from the underground palace, including gold, silver, and bronze Buddha statues, a silver pagoda model, as well as ornaments and decorations made of jade, crystal, agate, and coral. There had long been questions about the years of the pagoda’s reconstruction and relocation, but two stone steles were discovered in the underground palace. One recorded that in March of the 21st year of the Hongwu reign (February 1388), Monk Chunhou raised funds to build the pagoda; the other stated that it was moved behind the main hall in the 9th year of the Zhengtong reign. A stele in the “Heavenly Palace” noted that Buddha statues were placed there in the 13th year of the Zhengtong reign (1488). After restoration, the pagoda regained its original architectural style from the Song Dynasty. In 1982, Yuanying Pagoda was listed as a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai Municipality.