Yangzhou Wenfeng Pagoda

Yangzhou Wenfeng Pagoda

Yangzhou Wenfeng Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Yangzhou Wenfeng Pagoda

Wenfeng Pagoda is a landmark marking the entry and exit of water and land traffic to and from Yangzhou. “Where there’s a bay, there’s a pagoda; where there’s no Qionghua viewing spot, there are no Qionghua flowers.” This pagoda refers to Wenfeng Pagoda. In Tang Dynasty maps of Yangzhou, the Yangtze River was very close to the city. To reduce the direct impact of the river on Yangzhou, ancient people deliberately carved the canal connecting the Yangtze and Yangzhou into a zigzag shape. The turbulent river current wound its way in sharp turns, naturally easing its force. By the time it entered the city, it resembled a tamed wild horse, exuding a gentler and more refined aura. On the east bank at the bend of the canal stands this towering pagoda, serving as a symbolic beacon for those entering or leaving Yangzhou. The tall pagoda “bids farewell to the setting sun and greets the pale moon.” When night falls, lights are lit atop it to guide ships traveling north and south—“welcoming guests and seeing them off is always an emotional affair.”

Wenfeng Pagoda is located within Wenfeng Temple on the east bank of the ancient canal in the southern part of Yangzhou City, adjacent to the pagoda. Built in the 10th year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty, it is said to have been constructed to suppress negative literary influences in Yangzhou and help scholars succeed in imperial examinations—hence its name. Climbing to the top of the pagoda offers a panoramic view of the ancient canal and the urban scenery of Yangzhou.

Wenfeng Pagoda is a brick-and-wood structure, seven stories high with eight sides. Its base is a stone Sumeru pedestal, while the main body is built of brick. Each floor features wooden eaves and balconies with railings. The pagoda is square inside but octagonal outside, with four gates. The inner walls are staggered vertically and overlap to form an octagonal shape. By the first floor, both inner and outer walls become uniformly octagonal. The eaves on the ground floor extend particularly wide, and the lower columns are adorned with exquisite carvings and richly colored paintings. The spire is short and slender. Inside the pagoda, there remains a long stone stele inscribed with four large characters “Wenfeng Chan Temple” and nine lines of smaller text.

Wenfeng Pagoda is a pavilion-style pagoda, seven stories high with eight sides, featuring a mixed brick-and-wood structure. Its base is a stone Sumeru pedestal, and the outer eaves of the ground floor extend outward, providing a solid, dignified, and stable foundation. From the second floor upwards, the walls are all made of brick, while the brackets and railings are wooden structures. Floors one through six appear octagonal from the outside but are square inside, with doors opening in different directions. The inner walls are staggered vertically and overlap to form an octagonal shape. By the seventh floor, both inner and outer walls are uniformly octagonal. Overall, the seven floors are larger at the bottom and smaller at the top, resulting in a stable structure. Thus, during an earthquake that struck Yangzhou in the 7th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, countless official residences and civilian houses collapsed, yet only the spire of this pagoda fell—testifying to its sturdiness.

This pagoda is perfect for climbing to enjoy a distant view. Below, the quiet serenity of the temple halls and the flowing canal create a contrast of motion and stillness. Not far away lies a lotus pond, with the pagoda’s reflection hanging upside down in the canal and the pond nestled within green shade. People liken the pagoda to a brush and the pond to an inkstone—the brush and inkstone complement each other, creating a borrowed scenery effect. Looking north, the old city presents a blend of historic and modern scenes, with bustling streets full of traffic and residential buildings standing in close rows. Gazing southward, the Yangtze River lies calm as a silk ribbon, as if it has lost its once-turbulent, mountainous, and stormy momentum; the Jinshan Mountain stands like a screen, still exuding a veiled, misty, delicate beauty. Outside the pagoda stands the stone stele for the “Ancient Canal,” from which Jianzhen once set sail on his eastward journey, and where Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong cruised during their southern tours.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province

· Four Famous Pagodas of the Canal