Jingjiang Kuixing Pavilion

Jingjiang Kuixing Pavilion

Jingjiang Kuixing Pavilion is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Among the historic sites in Jingjiang, Kuixing Pavilion is not the oldest, but it is the most eye-catching. Its grand structure has three stories and stands on a stone base about 1.5 meters high. At approximately 14 meters tall, it towers over the surrounding low-rise buildings like a crane among chickens. The lower level of the pavilion is larger, tapering upward to resemble a pagoda. The pavilion is hexagonal, with 18 upturned flying eaves that seem ready to dance.

The ground floor is surrounded by a ring of stone railings, which are free of intricate patterns. Weathered over time, they appear even more rustic and dignified. Inside the stone railings is a tall wooden fence. The visual effect of being narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, along with a sense of stability, is created by these wooden fences—an example of the designer’s ingenuity. The second and third floors have no corridors, with wooden lattice windows on all six sides. The six corners of the second floor are each adorned with a vividly carved dragon head, whose delicate whiskers are still clearly visible today.

Kuixing Pavilion was first built in the fourth year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1799), also known as the Xun Pavilion. “Xun” is one of the eight trigrams in the I Ching, representing wind and also the southeast direction. The pavilion was constructed at the southeast corner of the old county town. The purposes of its construction were twofold: to promote cultural prosperity and to suppress unfavorable feng shui. The latter was related to the specific conditions in Jingjiang at the time. Before the 19th year of the Jiaqing reign (1814), Jingjiang had no river embankments, and the county town was right next to the river. Whenever the river water rose, the land along the riverbanks could only endure the impact of the floodwaters, resulting either in floods or riverbank collapses. In the 18th year of the Jiaqing reign (1813), a major riverbank collapse occurred, with the Tianhou Palace, Guan Yu Temple, and Wenfeng Pagoda outside the southern gate all collapsing into the river. Ironically, the Kuixing Pavilion, which was intended to suppress unfavorable feng shui, failed to prevent the riverbank collapse and itself became precarious, forcing its eventual dismantlement.

Address: No. 26, Tuanjie Road, Jingcheng Town, Jingjiang City

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province