Jueji Pagoda

Jueji Pagoda

Jueji Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Also known as Sanzu Pagoda, Jueji Pagoda is located within the Sanzu Temple complex on Fengxing Mountain in Sansi Group, Fengjing Village, Tianzhu Mountain Town. It was originally built in the Yiyi year (758 AD) of the Tianbao era during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, and was later renovated during the Song and Ming dynasties. According to the Annals of Qianshan County: “Formerly the Vice Prefect of Henan, Li Chang, served as the Deputy Governor of Shuzhou. He discovered the tomb of the third patriarch of Bodhidharma, Sengcan, opened the sacred relic and cremated it, obtaining 300 multicolored sarira beads. He donated a hundred of them to build the pagoda and had a statue of the Third Patriarch molded and enshrined inside. The pagoda was completed in the early years of the Qianyuan era during the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty. By the seventh year of the Dali era under Emperor Daizong, after an official petition by Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yanchang, it was named Jueji Pagoda.” In the fifth year of the Huichang era (845 AD), Emperor Wuzong suppressed Buddhism and the pagoda was destroyed. It was rebuilt in the early Dazhong era (847 AD). The existing base of the pagoda dates back to the Tang Dynasty, the main body to the Ming Dynasty, and the finial to the Song Dynasty. The pagoda stands 30 meters tall and is a seven-story, octagonal pavilion-style brick structure. Its outer walls are inlaid with hundreds of Buddha niches and statues. The four gates are positioned opposite each other, alternating in form. On the northern side, stone steps lead to the top. At the summit is a finial 1 zhang 5 chi high, entirely cast from wrought iron. The finial consists of nine sections: the top features an iron gourd ring, the bottom a kettle-shaped precious vase, and the middle five sections resemble a wheel. Above the wheel sits a precious vase that rests upon it. Beneath it, there is an inverted finial mounted on the top of the pagoda, greatly enhancing the stability of the structure and representing a clever fusion of art and architecture. To connect the finial and the pagoda firmly to withstand wind and snow, the ancients also inserted a thick wooden pillar through the upper part of the pagoda, anchoring it with eight iron chains extending in all directions and hung with 51 wind bells. In September 1981, the pagoda was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Anhui Province.