Wanzai Civilization Pagoda

Wanzai Civilization Pagoda

The Wanzai Civilization Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Civilization Pagoda is located south of the city. It was donated and built in the 21st year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1756) by Jian Sheng Yi Qiong and others. It was subsequently renovated in the 5th year of the Daoguang reign (1825) and the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1892) by descendants of Yi Qiong. The pagoda is constructed from bricks and stones, with a total height of about 30 meters and seven stories. The lower six levels are hexagonal in shape (the ground floor serves as the base), while the topmost level is cylindrical, with eaves extending between each tier; above the seventh level is a gray conical spire cap, topped with a finial. The base of the pagoda has two entrances—one facing northwest and the other southeast, each 1.8 meters high. The 2nd to 6th levels each feature six arched openings, four of which are false doors. On the eastern side of the ground floor interior is embedded a stone stele inscribed in relief regular script: "Erected in the spring month of the renchen year, the 18th year of the Guangxu reign; renovated by the descendants of Yi Qiong." In early summer 1983, the county government allocated funds for renovation, replacing the wooden staircase inside with an iron one. In 1998, the county government refurbished the Civilization Pagoda by installing bells at each corner, adding lighting around the base, and repainting the pagoda in beige, making it one of the ten image projects implemented in the county. This renovation was funded by an 180,000 RMB donation from the County Electric Power Corporation, with design and decoration carried out by Nanchang Jiangxi Yifeng Multimedia Technology Co., Ltd. On August 6, 2004, the county government undertook another antique-style renovation: the pagoda was first cleaned, then the original finish was stripped and repaired, and finally, the exterior was painted with antique-style Lining exterior wall paint, changing the pagoda’s appearance to gray bricks with white joints. The project cost a total of 70,000 RMB, undertaken by the County No. 1 Construction Company and completed on September 15, 2004. In September 2006, a full lighting upgrade was carried out; when illuminated at night, the conical spire cap atop the pagoda shines brilliantly, and the body of the pagoda glows under the spotlights, appearing delicate and translucent. Unfortunately, the several post-liberation renovations of the Civilization Pagoda did not follow the principle of preserving the original state of the cultural relic, failing to achieve the goal of restoring the old as old, turning the ancient pagoda into a new one.

According to the Wanzai County Annals, this pagoda was built in the 21st year of the Qianlong reign (1756 AD) and completed in two years. It underwent two major renovations in the 5th year of the Daoguang reign and the 18th year of the Guangxu reign. In early summer 1983, the Wanzai County Government allocated 25,000 RMB for renovation, installing a new iron staircase inside the pagoda that leads directly to the top, and adding iron railings to the doors on each level for visitors to climb and enjoy the view. (The pagoda's name is derived from the meaning “a pagoda of civilization, related to the influence of culture,” as recorded in the Tongzhi edition of the Wanzai County Annals.)