The White Pagoda in Jixian County

The White Pagoda in Jixian County

The White Pagoda in Jixian County is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The White Pagoda is located at the southwestern corner of Jixian County, 300 meters directly south of the Dule Temple. It was originally built during the Liao Dynasty and was formerly known as the Yuyang Prefecture Pagoda. It underwent renovations during both the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the Guanyin Temple was constructed in front of the pagoda. Due to its white exterior, it is also called the Guanyin Temple White Pagoda.

The pagoda has an octagonal floor plan and is composed of a tall Sumeru pedestal with entasis, an octagonal double-eaved pavilion-style tower body, a large stupa, and a thirteen-tiered spire at the top. The pagoda stands 30.6 meters tall and is built from brick and stone. Inside the tower door are finely carved reliefs of musical performers and dancers, which are exquisitely crafted and lifelike, serving as important evidence for the study of Liao Dynasty music and dance. The southern side of the pagoda features a door with a built-in Buddhist shrine; the eight corners each have a small double-layered pagoda. The lower part of the pagoda is designed in the style of a closely eaved tower, while the upper part is built in the shape of an inverted alms bowl, making it one of the uniquely shaped Liao Dynasty pagodas in China. It has long been praised as “A golden peak hangs the moon over the western sky; a jade pillar lifts the northern frontier clouds.”

In May 2013, the White Pagoda in Jixian County was designated and announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units