Baosheng Temple Pagoda (Square Treasure Pagoda)

Baosheng Temple Pagoda (Square Treasure Pagoda)

Baosheng Temple Pagoda (Square Treasure Pagoda) is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baosheng Temple Pagoda, located in the eastern suburbs of the county town, is one of the two oldest surviving square pagodas in our province to date (the other being the Square Pagoda of Chongjiao Temple in Changshu), and is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit. It is also a landmark building of the ancient city of Gaochun. In the 17th year of the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (801 AD), the eminent monk Guanxiu expanded the temple on Longcheng Mountain and named the pagoda "Longcheng Temple Pagoda." During the Xiangfu era of the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Baosheng Temple, and the pagoda was also renamed accordingly. The temple originally had structures such as a mountain gate, main hall, guest hall, side rooms, and dining quarters, along with fifty-one statues including Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, the God of Wealth, and arhats. All were later destroyed in wars, except for the pagoda which survived. According to the Qing Dynasty's "Record of the Reconstruction of the Treasure Pagoda" and inscriptions on the pagoda’s base bricks: "In the third year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1133 AD), local residents such as Liu Chuan initiated its construction." The pagoda underwent multiple repairs during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1637 AD), after renovations led by Xu Yifan and Ge Qizuo, the pagoda was repurposed as a scripture depository within the temple. After several subsequent restorations, the ancient pagoda was preserved.

The pagoda is designed as a seven-story square structure with a brick-and-wood pavilion style, standing 33.5 meters tall in total. The first floor features an external veranda attached to the pagoda body, giving it a dignified and stable appearance. The veranda serves not only an architectural function but also provides space for monks to chant scriptures and worship around the pagoda. Visitors can ascend the pagoda via stairs, with the first and seventh floors featuring arched doorways on all four sides. The second and sixth floors have staggered doorways to reduce wind resistance, showcasing ingenious design. The eaves of the pagoda taper upward by level, with wing corners gently rising. Each floor’s waist eave and brick bracket sets support cantilevered balconies extending beyond the pagoda body, surrounded by wooden railings forming a gallery where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the lake and town. At the top, the pagoda is crowned with a finial composed of seven stacked components: an inverted bowl, a lotus disk, and a seven-tiered spire wheel. These parts are cast in cast iron, weighing about 3.5 tons and standing 6.36 meters high. Up close, the pagoda’s finial resembles a bamboo shoot shooting from the earth; from afar, it looks like a vigorous brush reaching into the clouds. For centuries, it has been hailed by the people of Gaochun as the "Crown of the Four Treasures."

In recent years, with increased attention from governments at all levels to cultural relics protection, the pagoda was restored in 1986 as a key cultural relic, making its slender and elegant form even more robust. The Baosheng Temple Pagoda Garden, centered around the pagoda, covers an area of over 4,700 square meters, enclosed by a 256-meter-long wall. The entrance is marked by a gateway hall, and the garden includes a hexagonal pavilion and the Yunlong Pavilion for visitors to rest. The north-south corridors display over 100 collected stone inscriptions, carvings, folk items, and images of unearthed cultural relics from Gaochun. Visitors here, admiring the inscriptions, may find themselves lost in contemplation of ancient times, evoking deep reflections on the rise and fall of dynasties. The garden also cultivates hundreds of varieties of precious flowers and trees—cherry blossoms vie for beauty in spring, magnolia flowers bloom fragrantly in summer, osmanthus fills the air with fragrance in autumn, and wintersweet bravely blooms in winter. The surroundings are refreshing and enchanting, making visitors linger without wanting to leave.

Legend has it that over 1,700 years ago, Gaochun bordered the vast Danyang Marshes, where the great general of the Eastern Wu Kingdom, Zhou Yu, often stationed troops and trained naval forces on the lake. Sun Quan’s mother sometimes visited Gaochun accompanied by Xiao Qiao.

At that time, there was a Fairy Cave outside the east gate of Gaochun, inhabited by a Taoist hermit surnamed Xu. Having renounced worldly life, he sought immortality alone and planted various exotic flowers and plants in front of the cave, naming it "Xu Xian Cave."

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month one year, a heavy snow fell. The next morning, Xu noticed the chrysanthemums inside the cave remained lovely, while the outside world was blanketed in white. Plum blossoms in front of the cave bloomed, filling the air with fragrance. Inspired, he cooked a pot of “Laba porridge,” warmed a jug of “Hundred Flowers Wine,” and invited his friend Chen Yijun from Chunxi Town to drink, play chess, and compose poetry. When slightly tipsy, Xu said to Chen, “My flower garden is more heavenly than any immortal realm—surely it brings you endless joy. How will you thank me?” By then, Chen, growing drunk, retorted angrily, “This garden isn’t yours alone. Tomorrow I’ll rename it Chen Xian Cave.” Their playful banter escalated until they began pushing and shoving. In the scuffle, Xu grabbed a wine jug and struck Chen. Chen shouted, “I’ll take this to the county, or even the prefecture!” and stormed off. Enraged, Chen headed straight for the county office. Drunk and slipping on the icy road, he collided with the sedan chair of Sun Quan’s mother, who was out sightseeing. She lifted the curtain, saw a drunk man, and ordered her attendants to seize Chen. Frightened, Chen sobered instantly, realizing the woman was no ordinary person. He bowed his head in apology, becoming polite and articulate. Noticing he was a scholar, she inquired about the incident and asked him to guide her to Xu Xian Cave to enjoy the scenery. Meanwhile, back at the cave, Xu, left alone, drank himself into a stupor, locked the garden gate, and retired into the cave to rest. Sun Quan’s mother’s sedan, moving slowly due to the narrow and slippery path, arrived later. Seeing the garden gate closed, Chen shouted for Xu to come out and greet them. Thinking they had come for revenge, Xu opened the gate with one hand while grabbing a door-bar with the other to strike Chen. Chen was knocked unconscious. Just then, Sun Quan’s mother arrived and ordered, “Seize this beast!” Hearing shouts of “Your Majesty” and “Yes, Your Majesty,” Xu fainted from shock. The attendants, fearing she might be alarmed, helped her into the cave to rest briefly before they toured the garden and dug up some rare plants. By dusk, they departed, leaving the two men lying unconscious by the roadside—completely forgotten by her.

Legend says that since Xu and Chen died unjustly, their spirits lingered, often appearing in Sun Quan’s mother’s dreams to plead their case, crying and arguing. Terrified, she suffered insomnia and loss of appetite, finally urging her son to resolve the issue. Sun Quan, unable to refuse, tasked Zhou Yu with handling it. On the 80th birthday of Sun Quan’s mother, Zhou Yu, following the advice of a feng shui master, chose a site outside the east gate of Gaochun and oversaw the construction of a square brick-and-wood pagoda in the second year of the Chiwu era (239 AD). It served both to celebrate her birthday and suppress evil spirits.

Today, the open-to-public Baosheng Temple Pagoda attracts numerous visitors year-round. Standing beneath it, one sees flying eaves shading the sun, upturned corners reaching the clouds, and the towering spire piercing the sky. Bronze bells hang from the eaves of each level, their chimes like jade pendants ringing melodiously, captivating all who hear. It is said the pagoda’s wind bells respond to different listeners—those lost in confusion feel moved to reconsider, while the wise are inspired to do good and cherish time. Climbing to the top and looking out, one sees a web of roads crisscrossing the ancient town of Chunxi, skyscrapers standing tall across the city, and a vibrant scene. To the south lies Gucheng, to the north Shijiuzhou, their waters shimmering. Nearby Huashan and Youshan hills boast graceful scenery, while the fields to the east stretch out clearly. The view from on high broadens the heart and lifts the spirit endlessly.

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units