Baita Pagoda at Zhakou

Baita Pagoda at Zhakou

Baita Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Baita Pagoda at Zhakou is located on Baita Ridge by the Qiantang River in Zhakou, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Baita Pagoda at Zhakou is situated along the Qiantang River. It was initially built in the late period of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era. Standing in distant view with the Liuhe Pagoda, it is an iconic structure of the Qiantang River. Fan Zhongyan, a renowned statesman and literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty, once wrote a poem titled "Passing by Baita Temple in Yuhang": "Climbing the riverside temple, the exiled feel deep emotion. The endless waters stretch afar, while the lonely boat has yet to return. Among the jumbled peaks lie hidden beauties, and serene egrets fly at leisure. So much natural charm stirs the heart, binding one’s thoughts to the emerald hills."

The entire pagoda is carved and constructed from white stone, imitating the style of a wooden multi-story pavilion tower. It has an octagonal floor plan, nine stories in total, and is about 10 meters high. Each level is distinctly divided with well-proportioned dimensions, featuring deep and gently upturned eaves, resulting in an elegant and graceful outline. The base of the pagoda is adorned with carvings of mountains and waves, symbolizing the “nine mountains and eight seas,” above which sits a Sumeru pedestal. The pedestal’s waist is inscribed with Buddhist scriptures. Above that, the pagoda is divided into nine levels, each consisting of three parts: the main body, the eaves, and the terrace. The main body features relief sculptures of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and scripture transformation stories, with vivid and lifelike depictions.

In central and northern China, octagonal multi-story pavilion-style pagodas are rarely seen. This architectural form began around the late period of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era, gradually influencing the central and northern regions, and eventually becoming a common pagoda style in southern China during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Baita Pagoda at Zhakou is the most exquisite, authentic, and representative surviving example of a wooden-style pagoda from the late Wuyue period of the Five Dynasties. As such, it holds significant research value. The Jianggan area of Hangzhou gradually became an important ferry terminal since the Southern Dynasties. Phoenix Mountain served as the administrative center during the Sui and Tang dynasties, as well as the palace site of the Wuyue Kingdom in the Five Dynasties. The administrative center of the Northern Song and the imperial city of the Southern Song were also once located here. Therefore, for nearly seven hundred years, this area has been the political center of Hangzhou, resulting in a wealth of cultural relics and historic sites. Baita Pagoda is an important relic of the Wuyue Kingdom, not only a precious ancient architectural structure but also providing highly valuable information for the study of historical geography. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units