Beijing Tianning Temple Pagoda

Beijing Tianning Temple Pagoda

The Beijing Tianning Temple Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Beijing Tianning Temple Sarira Pagoda is an octagonal, thirteen-story, dense-eave solid brick pagoda, standing 57.8 meters tall in total. The brick pagoda is built on a huge square platform. The large platform features a two-tiered octagonal platform base, and on top of that is a lotus pedestal carved with designs such as lotuses, lion heads, Buddhas, and mighty guardians. Above the lotus pedestal is a tall gate-level section of the pagoda. The gate-level section is followed by thirteen tiers of dense eaves. Pagodas typically have “seven levels” (symbolizing the seven heavens), so thirteen tiers represent the highest rank, usually permitted only by royal decree. In the past, each level of the Tianning Temple Pagoda also hung copper temple bells that chimed melodiously in the wind, with their sound carrying for miles. By the Qing Dynasty, most of the copper bells had disappeared. In January 1988, the Tianning Temple Pagoda was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Tianning Temple Pagoda

Tianning Temple Pagoda

The Tianning Temple Pagoda is the oldest existing above-ground structure in Beijing’s urban area. According to the famous architect Liang Sicheng, the pagoda was built in the ninth year of the Dagang era during the Liao Dynasty (1083 AD). The Tianning Temple Pagoda stands 57.8 meters tall and is an octagonal, thirteen-story, dense-eave solid brick pagoda. Its overall structure from bottom to top consists of: the base, the terrace, the inverted lotus pedestal, the body of the pagoda, the thirteen-tiered eaves, the pagoda top, the precious bead, and the finial. The base is octagonal and divided into upper and lower sections. The lower base is divided into six arched niches by short columns on each side, with carved lion heads inside. The upper base is slightly narrower, with five arched niches on each side, featuring relief carvings of seated Buddhas. At the corners of both levels are relief carvings of Vajra guardians. The inverted lotus pedestal has three tiers, supporting the body of the pagoda. The pagoda body has semi-circular arched gates on four sides, flanked by carvings of Vajra guardians, bodhisattvas, and cloud-dragons—vivid and lifelike in design. The thirteen tiers of eaves gradually decrease in size, creating a rich and powerful layered effect. The entire pagoda is exquisitely shaped, tall and majestic, reflecting the exceptional architectural artistry of the Liao Dynasty.

The pagoda is a dense-eave style brick structure, with an octagonal floor plan, standing 57.8 meters tall in total. The base is a square platform. The bottom part is a Sumeru pedestal, and within the waist section of the pedestal are niches shaped like ancient wine vessels, some of which contain finely carved lion heads. The upper part is slightly narrower, with five such niches on each side, featuring relief carvings of seated Buddhas. The corners of both the upper and lower sections are adorned with carvings of mighty Vajra guardians. Above the Sumeru pedestal are three tiers of inverted lotus petals supporting the body of the pagoda. The front façades of the pagoda body feature arched gates, flanked by brick carvings of heavenly kings. The other sides have straight lattice windows, beside which are brick carvings of bodhisattvas—vivid and exquisite, representing fine examples of Liao Dynasty sculptural art. The eaves are multi-layered and upturned, layering into gentle curves. The pagoda displays a rich variety of brick-carving techniques and structural methods, highlighting the sophisticated architectural aesthetics of the Liao Dynasty. The multi-layered construction and the use of bricks reflect both structural ingenuity and artistic detail, making it a significant artifact for studying ancient Chinese architecture. It also provides important evidence for researching the geographical location of the old Beijing city site (then known as Yanjing).

The pagoda, having suffered from years of neglect and natural disasters, has been severely damaged. In July 1976, the Tangshan earthquake affected Beijing, causing serious damage to the top of the pagoda. The finial collapsed, the internal pillars were exposed, and some brick carvings were also damaged by the quake.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units