Ningbo Tianning Temple

Ningbo Tianning Temple

Ningbo Tianning Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Tianning Temple is located on Zhongshan West Road in Ningbo.

The temple was first built in the fifth year of the Tang Dynasty's Taizhong era (851 AD), originally named Guoning Temple. In the second year of the Song Dynasty's Zongning era (1106 AD), it was renamed Chongning Wanshou Temple, and in the first year of the Hehe era (1111 AD), it was changed again to Daning Wanshou Temple. It was destroyed during the Jianyan period by war but was soon rebuilt. In the second year of the Yuan Dynasty's ZhiDa era (1309 AD), it was destroyed by Japanese pirates and later reconstructed. In the fifteenth year of the Ming Dynasty's Hongwu era (1382 AD), it was renamed Tianning Chan Temple. In the early years of the Republic of China, it became known as “Tianning Temple.”

Originally, there were two pagodas, one on the east and one on the west, in front of the temple. The eastern pagoda collapsed during the Qing Dynasty's Guangxu era. In 1995, archaeological work was carried out in conjunction with the renovation of Zhongshan, and the remains of the eastern pagoda’s foundation were excavated. The existing structure is the western pagoda of Tianning Temple. Bricks from the pagoda bear an inscription reading “Made in the fourth year of Xiantong (863 AD),” and many bricks from the Xiantong era were also discovered during repairs in 1995. Hence, it is also called the “Xiantong Pagoda.” Because the pagoda is relatively short and resembles a turtle, it is commonly referred to as the “Turtle Pagoda.”

The Tianning Temple Pagoda is built of brick, featuring a parabolic elevation profile and a square floor plan, with each side approximately 3.20 meters long. It has five stories that gradually taper upwards. Each level features eaves formed by corbeling, which extend farther out compared to typical Tang Dynasty pagodas found in northern China. The interior of the pagoda is cylindrical, with arched gateways on all four sides at the ground level, and niches on each wall in the upper levels. The pagoda stands about 12 meters tall, with walls around 0.76 meters thick, covering a floor area of 10.42 square meters.

The Tianning Temple Pagoda is the only remaining Tang Dynasty brick pagoda in Zhejiang Province and also one of the few surviving examples of a pair of pre-Tang pagodas in front of a temple in China. It holds significant importance for the study of religious culture and Buddhist architecture during the Tang era. The western pagoda has now been restored to its original appearance.

In 2003, archaeological excavations were conducted at the Tianning Temple site, which largely clarified the layout of the temple grounds east of the central axis during the Tang and Song periods. The site is now preserved in situ.

In June 2006, it was designated as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units