Qinfeng Pagoda

Qinfeng Pagoda

The Qinfeng Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

“Layer upon layer of towers on Qian Dun Dun rise high, piercing the blue sky where wild eagles can’t fly. I wish to ascend to survey all four seas, but autumn winds and my frail body can’t take the climb.” These were the words of Fang Hao, a local magistrate in Kunshan during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, after he climbed the Qinfeng Pagoda in Qiandeng.

The Qinfeng Pagoda is situated on the west bank of Shangshu Pu, along the municipal river in Qiandeng Town, Kunshan. It is a square, seven-story pagoda with a brick body and wooden eaves, in a pavilion-style design, with a total height of 39.5 meters. Each level features a waist eave and a flat terrace, and the top of the pagoda is crowned with a finial. The finial consists of an inverted bowl, a dew-collecting plate, a five-tiered "ring" (known as the "sui lun"), and a "precious vase," all made of iron. It stands 7 meters tall and weighs nearly 3 tons. The top of the finial has four "wind ropes" that are tightly connected to the four upturned corners at the pagoda’s summit, firmly stabilizing the entire structure’s center of gravity.

Externally square, the pagoda has an octagonal inner wall at its base, while the second to seventh levels are all square chambers. The height and floor plan of each level gradually taper. Inside, wooden stairs and flooring allow visitors to reach the top. Each level has arched doorways on all four sides, through which one can lean out and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Originally part of the Bore Temple, the pagoda was first built in the second year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty (503 AD). It was named Qinfeng Pagoda because it was constructed south of Qinwang Mountain (now in ruins).

In Chinese history, during the over 40 years of rule by Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties period, “internal governance was sound, literature and education flourished, marking the pinnacle of Southern Dynasties culture.” Meanwhile, Buddhism in the Southern Dynasties also reached its zenith under Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu of Liang was a remarkable talent in Chinese history. He not only demonstrated exceptional intelligence in Confucianism and literature but was also a devout Buddhist. He abolished Daoism in favor of Buddhism, built numerous temples, and personally “led by example,” taking monastic vows three times at Tongtai Temple. One can imagine how thriving Buddhist activities must have been throughout the country under such a monarch’s patronage. Local historical records show that most temples once found in Kunshan were also built during Emperor Wu’s reign, and the Qinfeng Pagoda in Qiandeng is a product of that era.

The Qinfeng Pagoda has undergone multiple cycles of rise and decline. By the first year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1008 AD), the court ordered the original Bore Temple to be renamed “Yanfu Teaching Temple,” and the pagoda was also rebuilt. Today, inscriptions on the pagoda bricks indicate that it was then called the “Sakyamuni Pagoda.” At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Yanfu Temple was destroyed, leaving only the pagoda. It was renovated during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. In the late Ming period, parts of the pagoda deteriorated naturally and were later restored during the Qing Dynasty with donations from monks, returning it to its original state. In the tenth year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1860 AD), a great fire destroyed all wooden components on the pagoda, causing all structures dependent on the wood to collapse. The outer shell was stripped away, leaving only the bare body of the pagoda—which, however, remained intact.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, protective maintenance was carried out to stabilize the pagoda. In 1957, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government designated it as a provincial-level key cultural relic for protection. To promote national culture and effectively preserve historical artifacts, starting in 1994, the Kunshan Cultural Relics Management Committee and the Qiandeng Town People’s Government joined hands—with support from provincial and municipal authorities—to raise over a million yuan. Over a span of nearly ten months, a thorough renovation of the Qinfeng Pagoda, the oldest building in Kunshan, was completed. Its Song Dynasty appearance was restored, bringing back its former glory. Now, visitors can climb the internal stairway all the way to the top, immersing themselves once again in the poetic ambiance depicted in Fang Hao’s verse at the beginning. From the summit, dozens of miles of the Jiangnan landscape stretch out before your eyes.

The Qinfeng Pagoda is beautiful, primarily due to its perfectly proportioned design and the subtle tapering of its form. The varying heights between stories align with architectural physics principles and cater to human visual aesthetics. No wonder locals vividly liken the Qinfeng Pagoda to a graceful and innocent young maiden, calling it the “Pagoda of the Beauty.” The Qinfeng Pagoda is ancient. Among the existing structures in Kunshan—a city with a long and storied civilization—the Qinfeng Pagoda is the oldest. It holds significant reference value for the study of Chinese Buddhist architecture and the artistic styling of Song Dynasty buildings. The 44 Ming Dynasty brick-carved Buddha statues embedded in the pagoda also serve as rare physical materials for researching Chinese Buddhist culture.

Originally, the area around the Qinfeng Pagoda had numerous buildings belonging to the Yanfu Temple complex. After their destruction, the site was repurposed into residential housing and public facilities. Only a few thousand square meters of the original pagoda garden and some later-restored temple structures remain, forming what is now known as the Qinfeng Pagoda Garden. Though compact in size, it is a wonderful spot for leisurely exploration, historical discovery, and scenic appreciation.

Qiandeng Town: Qiandeng was formerly known as Qian Dun. According to the *Songnan Zhi* (Record of South of the River) by Chen Yuanmo of the Qing Dynasty, 36 li southeast of Kunshan County, in Chuan Township, there is a waterway called Qian Dun Pu. It is said that when the Songjiang River flows eastward from Wumen to this point, there are nearly a thousand mounds on both banks, hence the name Qian Dun. In the second year of the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty (1910 AD), it was renamed Qian Dun (also known as Qian Dun), with two legends explaining the name: one suggesting it was a refined literary term, the other claiming it derived from the abundance of madder plants growing on the mounds. In April 1966, with approval from the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Committee, it was renamed Qiandeng, the name it still bears today.

Located in the Yangtze River Delta, Qiandeng Town is under the jurisdiction of Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. It covers an area of 84 square kilometers and has a population of 130,000. Qiandeng Town detailed information++

Further reading:

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

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units