Yuncheng Guanyin Temple Pagoda

Yuncheng Guanyin Temple Pagoda

Yuncheng Guanyin Temple Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

On the plains of southwestern Shandong stands an ancient city — Yuncheng. The city was established in the fourth year of Duke Cheng of Lu’s reign (500 BC), from which it got its name. In the heart of this ancient city stands an old pagoda, which, with its countless touching legends, has become a symbol of old Yuncheng.

Yuncheng’s Deserted Pagoda, also known as Guanyin Temple Pagoda, is said to be linked to the growing bond between the Heavenly King Who Subdues Demons, Li Jing, and his son Nezha. Deepening their father-son relationship, the Heavenly King broke the divine pagoda bestowed by Buddha to subdue Nezha into three pieces, discarded them from the Heavenly Gate, and instantly, fierce winds arose, darkening the skies. One piece of the pagoda landed in Yuncheng, another in Juye, and the top piece drifted to Jinxiang. Hence, the pagodas in these three counties are strikingly similar.

The Guanyin Temple Pagoda is an octagonal, four-gated pavilion-style brick pagoda. Currently, four stories remain, adorned with exquisitely carved brick brackets forming the eaves. Each of the east, west, south, and north sides features a vaulted gate, while the other sides have carved decorative windows. The inner chamber and the tops of the Buddha niches are surrounded by layers of interlocking brick brackets forming a dome. These brackets are finely crafted, gradually narrowing inward, with a rigorous and staggered structure that shows ingenious craftsmanship. Even the inner corridor ceiling is meticulously built with brick brackets.

According to the Yuncheng County Annals, in the thirteenth year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1448 AD), when the Yellow River burst its banks near Xingyang, Yuncheng was flooded in July. The pagoda was buried under silt up to two stories. Today, only the upper four stories remain above ground, standing approximately 32 meters tall. The second story has a circumference of 40 meters, and the base story a circumference of 44 meters. Despite weathering and erosion over time, the pagoda remains majestic and primitive, still a scenic highlight of the region. The pagoda is surrounded by clear waters, with green trees providing shade along the banks. At dawn and dusk in summer, thousands of swallows gather, flying and chirping around the pagoda. The “Swallows of the Deserted Pagoda” became one of the ten major scenic sights of ancient Yuncheng. The interplay of morning and evening light, green foliage, and the shadows of swallows with the towering ancient pagoda reflected in the clear water resembles an ancient landscape painting — a truly spectacular sight.

On October 7, 2019, Yuncheng Guanyin Temple Pagoda was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Location

Tangta Road, Heze City, Shandong Province

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units