Juye Yongfeng Pagoda

Juye Yongfeng Pagoda

Juye Yongfeng Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yongfeng Pagoda, also known as the "Buddhist Pagoda" or the Great Buddha Temple Pagoda, is located on the north side of the eastern section of Renmin Road in Juye County. It lies to the east of the Linzhou Hotel, to the west of residential houses, and approximately 70 meters north of Wenmiao Street. On December 7, 2006, it was designated as part of the third batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units by the People's Government of Shandong Province.

Yongfeng Pagoda was built during the Jiayou era of the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of over a thousand years. It was originally named after being situated within the Great Buddha Temple, and later acquired the name "Yongfeng," which signifies bountiful harvests year after year. Since its construction, it has undergone multiple renovations during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, allowing it to be preserved to this day. According to the county annals, the pagoda “was initially built but not completed with a spire, and was later continued by people of the Song Dynasty.” In 1943, the county government of the Republican era carried out maintenance work. After the liberation, the Party and the nation placed great emphasis on the protection of cultural relics, and reinforcement and restoration were conducted in 1961 and 1991 respectively.

In 1982, a key survey was conducted during the Juye County cultural relics census. Yongfeng Pagoda is an equal-sided octagonal, four-gated pavilion-style brick pagoda. It is said to have originally had seven levels, but two of them were buried due to siltation from the Yellow River floods in the late Yuan Dynasty. Currently, five levels remain above ground, with a total height of 30.3 meters. The heights of the first to fifth levels are 6.3, 6.5, 4.1, 3.9, and 3 meters respectively, and the steeple is 6.5 meters tall (including the finial). The base perimeter of the pagoda is 44 meters, while the upper level perimeter is 36 meters. The first level features brick cantilevered eaves, while the other levels are formed by double-bracketed arches supporting the upper eaves. Each level has arched gateways on the east, south, west, and north sides, leading either to a small courtyard or directly into the inner corridor of the pagoda. The structure of the pagoda is rigorous, gradually decreasing in size and tapering appropriately from the bottom up. The base level contains a central chamber, accessible through the north gate, with six Song Dynasty Buddhist stone statues embedded in the walls—original relics from the Great Buddha Temple, installed during the 1961 renovation. During the renovation, several copper coins from the Jiayou era of the Northern Song Dynasty were discovered, which are of significant importance for studying the pagoda’s construction date. Outside the pagoda, there are several steps leading inside, where visitors can ascend spiral stone stairs to reach the top. From the top, one can overlook the entire cityscape.

Having stood for over a thousand years, Yongfeng Pagoda has endured numerous earthquakes, years of wind and rain erosion, and the ravages of war, yet it remains firmly upright—a testament to the advanced skills of the ancient people of Juye in materials, construction, and design. Climbing to the top and leaning on the railing, one can take in the full view of the city. Below the pagoda, shimmering blue waters blend with the sky and light, creating spectacular views at dawn and dusk, especially during sunrise and sunset. This is one of the famous ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Juye, known as “Buddhist Pagoda at Dawn.”

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Heritage Protection Units