Qīngguó Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou

Qīngguó Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou

Qīngguó Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is a cultural tourism attraction.

Qīngguó Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is located on the eastern side of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, facing Rénshòu Pagoda on the west side across a distance of 200 meters, commonly known as the "East Pagoda." Qīngguó Pagoda has five stories, an octagonal plan, and stands approximately 48 meters tall. It was built in the late Southern Song Dynasty, constructed in the second year of the Jiāxī era (1238 AD), and completed in the tenth year of the Chúnyòu era (1250 AD).

Although the structure of the pagoda is made of stone (granite), it is a highly faithful imitation of Song-style wooden architecture, with meticulous attention to detail. The base, or Sumeru pedestal, features exquisite carvings, with 39 panels inside the niches depicting scenes from the Buddha’s birth to his enlightenment (unlike the flower motifs predominant on the West Pagoda), Jataka tales, the conversion of Emperor Ashoka to Buddhism, and the eastward spread of Buddhism. Each side of the pagoda body is adorned with relief sculptures of heavenly kings, bodhisattvas, monks, and more.

The twin pagodas of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, with their exquisite construction and remarkable state of preservation, truly deserve to be called the pinnacle of Chinese stone pagodas.

The eastern one is the "Qīngguó Pagoda," initially built in the sixth year of the Xián­tōng era of the Tang Dynasty (865 AD) as a five-story wooden pagoda by the founding monk Wén Cuī. It underwent several instances of destruction and reconstruction, changing from wood to brick. In the third year of the Bǎoqìng era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1227 AD), it was rebuilt as a seven-story brick pagoda. The current stone pagoda was reconstructed between the second year of the Jiāxī era (1238 AD) and the tenth year of the Chúnyòu era (1250 AD) of the Southern Song Dynasty, standing 48.24 meters tall.

The East Pagoda is divided into four sections structurally: the corridor, outer wall, inner corridor, and central octagonal pillar. The pagoda features a frame structure. The central pillar runs vertically through all floors, acting as the main support for the entire structure. At each of the eight corners of the central pillar on every floor, stone beams are installed, connecting to the 2-meter-thick walls and supporting columns. The bracket sets atop the pillars extend out with layered bracket arms, reducing the span of the stone beams. The stone beams and their supports are precisely carved, fitting together like mortise and tenon joints, linking the stress points between the central pillar and the walls into a unified structure, greatly enhancing the sturdiness of the pagoda. The walls are constructed from exquisitely cut granite blocks arranged in a crisscross pattern, calculated with precision and built meticulously. The East Pagoda was featured in the 1997 set of Chinese stamps showcasing the Four Famous Pagodas, earning the title of the “King of Stone Pagodas.”

Location

Eastern side of Kaiyuan Temple, West Street, Quanzhou City