Putong Pagoda

Putong Pagoda

Putong Pagoda is a national key cultural relic protection unit.

China’s First Buddhist Pagoda — Putong Pagoda. Located in Beijiucheng, north of Nangong City, 1.5 kilometers east of the urban area. It is a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province. Originally built in the 10th year of the Yongping era (67 AD) during the reign of Emperor Ming of Han, and completed on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the 15th year of Yongping (72 AD), it has a history of over 1,900 years to date, predating the White Horse Temple Pagoda in Luoyang, Henan by one year, thus earning the title “China’s First Buddhist Pagoda.” It is one of the earliest Buddhist architectural structures in China.

Putong Pagoda features several unique architectural techniques. This octagonal solid-brick pagoda has nine levels, stands 33 meters tall, with a base diameter of 5 meters. Each level of the pagoda body features eaves, below which are bracket sets (dougong). On the eighth level, the dougong extends outward with upturned ends, without the use of a “linggong,” but instead with a small bracket supporting the eave. The pagoda top is fitted with an iron spire in the shape of an “upward lotus drill head,” housing three gilded copper Buddha statues of varying sizes. On the south side of the pagoda’s Sumeru pedestal, there is a doorway leading all the way to the pagoda core, beneath which lies a brick well. On the east, west, and north sides of the brick well sit three stone Buddha statues. The entire structure has a distinctive form and unique design, making it a rare masterpiece in the evolution of Chinese pavilion-style architecture.

Legend has it that the decision to build the pagoda in Nangong City was due to an incident when Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, along with his father Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, were being pursued by Wang Mang. They once stayed in Nangong, cooked by a stove under the Dafeng Pavilion, ate, and rested. Liu Xiu remarked that this place was a feng shui treasure spot. Later, Emperor Ming ordered the Indian monks Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna to build a pagoda near the Dafeng Pavilion in Nangong. Various editions of the Nangong County Annals from the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods all record: “When Emperor Guangwu of Han inspected Hebei and heard that Wang Qi’s troops were approaching, he urgently crossed the Hutuo River to Nangong. Encountering strong winds, he drove his carriage into an empty house by the roadside. Feng Bi gathered firewood, Deng Yu made a fire, and the Emperor cooked his clothes by the stove...”

The name “Putong” is derived from the “Universal Gate Chapter of the Lotus Sutra.” It explains: “‘Pu’ means universal or all-encompassing.” In Buddhism, “universal salvation” refers to great compassion and saving all sentient beings. “Tong” means vermilion or cinnabar red. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the imperial palace where the empress resided was painted cinnabar red and called the “Tong Hall.” Behind Putong Pagoda, the temple enshrined Bodhisattvas, and both the pagoda body and the temple were cinnabar red, hence the character “Tong” was chosen, and the pagoda was named “Putong Pagoda.”

Historical records indicate that Putong Pagoda has undergone seven renovations and reconstructions throughout history. The first reconstruction was in the 4th year of the Taihe era (230 AD) during the Wei (Three Kingdoms) period, the second maintenance was in the 4th year of the Zhenguan era (630 AD) during the Tang Dynasty, the third was in the mid-Song Dynasty, the fourth was the reconstruction in the 15th year of the Jiajing era (1536 AD) during the Ming Dynasty, the fifth was a major renovation in the 11th year of the Guangxu era (1885 AD) during the Qing Dynasty, the sixth was a repair during the Republican era, and the seventh was in 1991 when the provincial cultural relics department allocated 130,000 yuan for reconstruction.

The “top three levels” of the pagoda were completely refurbished, each level reinforced with iron plates, bracket sets were replaced, the spire and 2,260 other items were restored, achieving the effect of “restoring the original appearance and returning it to its former state.” It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

Putong Temple originally had structures such as the main hall, pagoda shelter, side corridors, Maitreya Hall, side gate, and enclosing walls. Due to years of neglect, the temple fell into serious disrepair. In 1995, Putong Temple underwent restoration and reconstruction, covering a total area of over 20 acres. Current main structures include the Mountain Gate Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, Chanting Hall, Dining Hall, Pagoda Courtyard, Guest Rooms, and Monks' Quarters. Venerable Master Hongchuan, Standing Committee Member of the Hebei Provincial Political Consultative Conference, Executive Director of the Buddhist Association of China, and Vice President of the Buddhist Association of Hebei Province, serves as the abbot, promoting Buddhist teachings.

Address: Located in Beijiucheng Village, 1.5 kilometers northwest of downtown Nangong.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Key Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hebei Province

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units