South Pagoda

South Pagoda

The South Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Standing atop Donghualing Mountain in Yongxin County and looking north, one can see the sinuous course of the Heshui River. Along the willow-lined banks, a towering thatched pagoda comes into view — its majestic form unweathered by the storms of time. Nestled within the campus of Chengnan Middle School, this earthen pagoda is the South Pagoda, the oldest surviving Song Dynasty pagoda in Jiangxi.

The South Pagoda is a closely eaved green-brick pagoda. It was first built in the first year of the Zhi Dao era of the Northern Song Dynasty (995), making it nearly a thousand years old. The pagoda stands 16.5 meters tall and has nine levels, with each level featuring an arched doorway-like structure on its southwestern side. Between the levels are overlapping eaves. The interior of the pagoda is hollow below the second level and solid above. The western side of the first level has a door that is 2 meters high and 1.3 meters wide, while the other three sides each have a false door. The second to third levels have wall niches on two sides, which originally housed Buddha statues. The ninth level is cylindrical, topped with an iron finial. At the base of the finial is an inverted bowl, above which sits a lotus throne, supporting a cylindrical iron column with three sets of stacked disks. The iron finial and stacked disks are cast with vivid images of Vajra deities and exquisitely detailed patterns. The spaces between the figures and patterns, as well as the outer parts of the stacked disks, are adorned with relief carvings and finely crafted inscriptions. The inscriptions consist of 686 characters, divided into 48 sections, recording that the pagoda’s initiator was the eminent monk Yuanzhou, the construction was overseen by the monks Wen yuan and Baicheng, along with the nun Zhangtong and four others. The architects of the ancient pagoda were craftsmen Zhao Wenche and Hongshou, among others. According to the inscriptions, the funding for the pagoda’s construction came entirely from public donations.

For nearly a thousand years, various legends have been associated with the South Pagoda. One tale says it was one of the Three Treasures used to subdue floods in the Heshui River. Another recounts that “the South Pagoda wears Zhou Yu’s hat” because its top resembles the helmet of an ancient general. In recent years, the pagoda has undergone multiple restorations, appearing more majestic than ever — like a warrior ready for battle — silently guarding the clear river and witnessing the tremendous changes in Hecity.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units