Jinshan Pagoda Complex

Jinshan Pagoda Complex

The Jinshan Pagoda Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Yuan Dynasty

Address: Longxing Temple at the western foot of Jinzi Mountain, Linhai City, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province

Linhai’s Jinshan Mountain boasts beautiful scenery. Distributed throughout the mountain are four ancient pagodas, which contribute a strong historical ambiance. The large and small Wenfeng Pagodas on the summit have become emblematic of the city, while among the pagoda cluster, the most distinctive and famous is the Thousand Buddha Pagoda.

Longxing Temple at the western foot of Jinshan was first built in the first year of the Shenlong era (705 AD) during the Tang Dynasty, originally named “Shenlong Temple.” In the second year (706 AD), it was renamed “Zhongxing,” then reverted to “Longxing” in the third year of the Jinglong era (709 AD), and again changed to “Kaiyuan” in the 26th year of the Kaiyuan era (738 AD). The Thousand Buddha Pagoda is located within Longxing Temple. Legend has it that the pagoda houses many treasures, hence it is also called the Duobao Pagoda. Its exact founding date is unknown, though some attribute it to Yueyang King of the Liang Dynasty. It was built no later than the third year of the Tianbao era (744 AD) during the Tang Dynasty, initially called the Longxing Temple Pagoda, but was later destroyed.

The current structure of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda was rebuilt in the third year of the Yuandade era (1299 AD). According to the brick inscription “Vow Text for Donating the Construction of the Duobao Pagoda” by the Yuan monk Chunju (the original bricks were embedded inside the ancient pagoda, each brick measuring 0.38m long, 0.19m wide, 0.075m thick, with 12 lines of text containing 8–13 characters each, totaling 110 characters, now housed in the Linhai Museum), the pagoda was “donated in February of the third year of Yuandade (1299 AD) by the monk Chunju of Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple in memory of his deceased father Pan Xiuxing, mother Lady Chen, grandfather Xuanjiao Gong, and grandmother Lady Che.” Thus, the Thousand Buddha Pagoda was funded by the Yuan Dynasty monk Chunju of Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple to commemorate his deceased parents and grandparents. Originally, there were three floors and a teahouse, but the building was destroyed in a fire during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty. The ancient pagoda was renovated in 1999.

Typically, historical relics and cultural sites have inscribed steles documenting their history, construction, and features. However, aside from two stone plaques outside the main gate of Longxing Temple — “Zhejiang Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit: Longxing Temple Thousand Buddha Pagoda” and “Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit: Jinshan Pagoda Complex (including Thousand Buddha Pagoda, East Great Pagoda, and Nanshan Hall Pagoda)” — there are no similar steles in front of or beneath the base of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda.

At the foot of Jinshan, behind the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, there is an air-raid shelter. Although it might still feel a bit stuffy outside, the interior emanates a cool breeze. The shelter has iron-barred gates and is likely connected to another shelter at the northern foot of Jinshan. Owing to its year-round temperate climate, it serves as a natural air conditioner. In the past, the shelter on the northern side of Tianning Road became an ideal storage spot for fruit vendors, and in previous years during intense summer heat, it also served as a refuge for residents seeking relief. A warning sign on the inner wall of the pagoda’s shelter reads “No Admittance: War Preparedness Tunnel.” Nearby lies a tattered advertisement cloth bearing a “Brief Introduction to the Thousand Buddha Ancient Pagoda,” which reads: “Legend says a woman lost several children in infancy, but after praying at a temple and receiving guidance from a monk, she vowed to rebuild the ancient pagoda.” “Upon the pagoda’s completion, it was renamed ‘Tower for Protecting Peace.’ Many devout practitioners often witnessed divine lights emitting from the tower at night, with unusual colors and the sounds of heavenly drums. The family who reconstructed the pagoda not only secured offspring but also enjoyed five generations under one roof, living in peace year after year.” — The text is crudely made, unsigned, and carries a distinctly folkloric tone. Some claims are not found in other sources, so take it with a grain of salt.

Walking around the Great Buddha’s Hall of Longxing Temple and entering the “Thousand Buddha Pagoda Courtyard” (the plaque is inscribed in the handwriting of Master Hongyi), you’ll find the Scripture Depository directly ahead, with the “Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss Courtyard” to the left (which includes a small courtyard and, further back, the “Gratitude Hall”) — the entire complex follows a “large courtyard with nested small courtyards and connecting wing-rooms” architectural style. The Thousand Buddha Pagoda leans against the foot of Jinzi Mountain, standing atop a roughly three-meter-high base, believed to have been originally carved from bedrock. Stone railings encircle the base, with 18 lotus-shaped pillars standing in the middle. Steps on both sides allow visitors to ascend and admire the ancient pagoda up close.

The Thousand Buddha Pagoda is a seven-story, hexagonal, brick-and-wood hybrid pavilion-style tower. Each level features a niched doorway (kūmén), with the niches staggered across different facades on each level. Starting from the second level, each facade contains a Buddha niche (on the fifth level, a beehive hangs inside the frontal niche — a clever solution that avoids disturbing residents while providing shelter from wind and rain). The first level has only one kūmén on the eastern side, close to the mountain base, described as being “2.1 meters high, 0.66 meters wide, with an arch-like top.” Climbing through the first-level kūmén and looking up, you see the hollow interior of the pagoda, completely undecorated, offering a clear view all the way to the top. Light filters through the various kūmén on each level, illuminating the interior.

According to records: The Thousand Buddha Pagoda stands approximately 28.66 meters tall (currently about 30 meters after renovation). The base edge length varies slightly, generally around 3.06 meters per side, with a diagonal diameter of 7.12 meters and an inner hollow diameter of 1.8 meters. “Above the first level, only three layers of corbelled brickwork are used, with no eaves or balconies… Corner pillars are used throughout.” (“Corbelled brickwork” is an ancient masonry technique where bricks or stones are layered and cantilevered outward or inward to support upper structures; “eaves” refer to the roof overhangs of towers or pavilions; “balconies” are the projecting corridors on upper floors supported by brackets and planks for viewing; “corner pillars” are square half-columns protruding halfway from the wall). The joints between bricks on each corbelled layer sprout stubborn shrubs and weeds, accentuating the pagoda’s antiquity and rugged charm.

The original top of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda was damaged, earning it the nickname “Bald Pagoda.” The gourd-shaped top was restored during the 1999 renovation. From the ancient city wall opposite Longxing Temple, the gourd top is clearly visible.

Since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, especially during the Yuan era, Tibetan Lamaism was respected by the Yuan rulers, and the pagodas constructed were predominantly Lamaist stupas (with a domed shape typically consisting of a base, body, neck (called the finial), and spire). In the Jiangnan region, the influence of Lamaism was less pronounced, and pagodas continued to be mainly built in the traditional brick-and-wood pavilion style, though in significantly reduced numbers. The Thousand Buddha Pagoda is the oldest surviving pagoda in Linhai, the only Yuan Dynasty pagoda in Taizhou, and one of the few Yuan pagodas in Zhejiang. Its scale, height, and design resemble those of Ningbo’s King Asoka Pagoda. It holds notable artistic value and occupies a certain place in architectural history. Due to the historical ties between Longxing Temple and Japanese Tendai Buddhism, the Japanese scholar Tokiwa Daijō featured photos and descriptions of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda (taken around 1922) in Volume 6 of his work “Research on Chinese Buddhism” (“Cultural Historical Sites of China”) and Japan’s “Oriental Art Grand View.”

The Thousand Buddha Pagoda gets its name from the thousands of Buddha images — one on each brick — covering its surfaces. With over a thousand Buddha figures, this is the pagoda’s most distinctive feature.

Some sources cite 1,036 Buddha figures, others 1,003, and some claim the pagoda originally had 971 Buddha-brick images. Let’s do the math: the pagoda has seven levels and six faces. The first level has 11 figures per row, four rows per face, six faces total, but one face is missing 16 figures due to a kūmén, totaling 248 Buddha figures on the first level; the second level has 184, the third 148, the fourth and fifth levels together have 276, the sixth level 87, and the seventh 68 — adding up to 1,011 Buddha figures. This doesn’t match any of the documented figures, but the lower levels’ Buddha images are clear and countable. The discrepancy may arise from the greater height and visibility issues of the upper levels. Regardless, it's certain there are over a thousand Buddha figures. Hence, the name “Thousand Buddha Pagoda” is well justified.

From a distance, the raised Buddha figures on each brick are faintly visible; up close, they are distinct and neatly arranged, even on the sides of the niches, creating a dense, fascinating pattern. Under sunlight, the interplay of light and shadow from the semi-three-dimensional figures is striking. Each Buddha figure is molded and fired, slightly raised from the brick surface like a bas-relief, with smooth drapery lines and balanced proportions. The figures sit cross-legged on lotus thrones, serene, dignified, and graceful. Despite weathering, they remain composed and lifelike, “vividly molded, raised in relief, and observable by all.” Over time, especially on the higher levels, some Buddha figures have eroded, adding to the pagoda’s antique charm, while most on the lower levels were recreated during renovations.

It is said that the proportions and craftsmanship of the Buddha figures on the pagoda bricks are rare among ancient pagodas in China, and even rarer among surviving ones. The Japanese scholar Tokiwa Daijō described the Thousand Buddha Pagoda in “Cultural Historical Sites of China” as retaining a “majestic and imposing presence, particularly with its thousand Buddha bricks that enhance the exterior’s solemn beauty.”

Inside the Great Buddha’s Hall beside the pagoda, Buddhist chants resonate, while the Thousand Buddha Pagoda stands alone in serene silence.

About a hundred meters northwest of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, along Ziyang Street, lies the Thousand Buddha Well, also called the Twin-Eye Well. Legend says it was built to balance yin and yang after the construction of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda. The well’s walls are lined with bricks embossed with yin-carved Buddha figures, symbolizing the reminder to “remember the source when drinking water” and honor the Buddha. The pagoda’s Buddha figures are yang-carved, while the well’s are yin-carved — yin and yang complementing each other in perfect harmony.

The gourd top was restored in 1999. On December 12, 1989, it was listed as a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, and on May 2013, it was included in the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

In the 23rd year of the Qing Jiaqing era, lightning struck and collapsed the eastern part of Jinzi Mountain. On June 24, 1853 (third year of the Xianfeng era), the eastern pagoda of Jinzi Mountain completely collapsed. The current pagoda was rebuilt in the fourth year of the Tongzhi era (1865) upon the initiative of Liu ?, the Taizhou prefect. The second-level base preserves Southern Song Dynasty remnants, including inscribed donation plaques. The funding was penalized from Xu Wannian of Datian Chishui, hence it is also called the “Wannian Pagoda.”

Above the pagoda door, an old inscription reads “Writing Brush Piercing the Clouds (文笔冲霄).” Each level contains Buddha niches and windows, with earthenware Buddha statues enshrined inside. The second level... [text truncated] Ancient City Streets: Gucheng Subdistrict, Linhai City, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province

Gucheng Subdistrict Office of Linhai City Established on February 9, 2001, Gucheng Subdistrict covers an area of 81 square kilometers, governs 12 community committees, 23 administrative villages, and 1 vegetable company (transformed from a former vegetable village). It has a permanent population of 132,000 (including 105,000 residents) and a floating population of 45,000. It was established as a municipal-level agency after carving out parts of the suburban area from the former Linhai City Chengguan Town.

The subdistrict boasts over two thousand years of history as an administrative and town-settled region. … More details on Gucheng Subdistrict ++