Yucheng White Pagoda Temple

Yucheng White Pagoda Temple

Yucheng White Pagoda Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The temple was originally named "Ancient Fahai Chan Temple" and was renamed "White Pagoda Temple" during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. The original White Pagoda Temple was divided into two courtyards, east and west. The east courtyard was over 80 meters long from north to south and about 50 meters wide from east to west. Entering through the southern gate (the mountain gate), there was a front courtyard with three wing rooms on each of the east and west sides. In the center of the courtyard, there was a hard-paved path (brick-paved) leading to the main hall in the north. The main hall, called the Great Buddha Hall, had three large rooms, measuring 20 meters from east to west, 8 meters from north to south, and 10 meters in height. The porch and eaves were adorned with carved beams and painted rafters. Upon entering the hall, the two guardian deities, Heng and Ha, stood on either side, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, their forms strange and imposing. At the center of the hall was a statue of Sakyamuni, over 4 meters tall, serenely seated atop a high platform (base). Around the hall were the Eighteen Arhats, each with unique postures and lifelike expressions. The west courtyard was adjacent to the east courtyard, connected by a small gate, and located slightly further forward. It measured 40 meters from north to south and 20 meters from east to west, with four rooms in the north building and five rooms in the west building, serving as living quarters for the monks.

In 1943, under the leadership of District Chief Duan Rensheng (originally from Quzhuang, Dacheng Township), a senior high school was established at the White Pagoda Temple, becoming the earliest senior high school within dozens of miles. The school was closed during the Liberation War. In the spring of 1950, the "White Pagoda Temple Primary School" (a complete primary school in Shitun District) was officially established, with Yu Hongxiang as its first principal. In the autumn of 1950, due to the main hall being deemed unsafe, Principal Yu Hongxiang reported to the county's Culture and Education Bureau. With approval, the main hall was demolished. The stone steles originally located on both sides of the hard-paved path in the temple courtyard (one titled "Record of the Reconstruction of White Pagoda Temple" and the other "Benefactor of Merit, Good Man") were toppled and abandoned in the open space of the schoolyard during the Cultural Revolution. In 1996, led by Du Chuanli (from Wuzhuang, Fangsi), then principal of White Pagoda Temple Primary School, and through negotiations between the city's Culture Bureau and the former Shanji Township government, 10,000 yuan was raised to have artisans from Qufu carry out restoration work. Principal Du Chuanli oversaw the process, and the steles were re-erected.

Source: Yucheng City Local Chronicles Compilation Committee