Pagoda of the Founding Master at Kaiyuan Temple

Pagoda of the Founding Master at Kaiyuan Temple

The Pagoda of the Founding Master at Kaiyuan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province.

Pagoda of the Founding Master at Kaiyuan Temple

Era: Yuan Dynasty

Location: Zhao Feng Community, Beifeng Subdistrict, Fengze District, Quanzhou City

Introduction: Constructed during the Yuandade era (1264–1294) by Chan Master Miaoen, the founding abbot of Quanzhou’s “Great Kaiyuan Wanshou Chan Temple,” the pagoda complex spans around 600 square meters. It is made up of three spherical stone pagodas arranged in a straight line. The pagodas sit on hexagonal sumeru pedestals, with the waist of the pedestal inscribed in intaglio with the characters “monk,” “Buddha,” and “Dharma” on the front. The main body of the pagodas is elliptical, with a door on the front of each. The tops feature upturned eaves and flying rafters, crowned with gourd-shaped finials. The central pagoda houses the relics of the acting abbots, while the two side pagodas contain the relics of other monks. The area around the pagodas includes two-tiered platforms and horseshoe-shaped burial enclosures. The tomb of Huang Shougong is a subsidiary cultural relic.

Protected Area: Pagoda of the Founding Master at Kaiyuan Temple — within 30 meters southeast, 20 meters northwest, 15 meters southwest, and 35 meters northeast of the pagoda;

Tomb of Huang Shougong — within 30 meters southeast, 18 meters northwest to the railway, 35 meters southwest, and 65 meters northeast of the tomb.

In 2009, the Pagoda of the Founding Master at Kaiyuan Temple was designated as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units by the People’s Government of Fujian Province.

Zhao Feng Community: Zhao Feng Community

Zhao Feng Community is located at the intersection of the provincial highway and Jiangbin Road. It administers four natural villages: Xigan, Xibu, Shanzaihou, and Shipeng, covering an area of about 2 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 2,688 and a floating population of approximately 9,000. The community enjoys convenient transportation—the Provincial Highway 307 runs through it, Hongfu Road connects to the three natural villages of Xibu, Shanzaihou, and Shipeng, and Jiangbin Road is adjacent to Xigan Village, ensuring easy access to all four. The century-old Fuching Temple is situated in Shipeng, Zhao Feng, with a current area of about 1,000 square meters. The total tax revenue for the year 2005 was... Detailed information about Zhao Feng Community++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units in Fujian