Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda

Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda

The Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda is located on the east side inside the southern gate of Dingzhou city and is the tallest existing ancient brick-and-wood pagoda in the world. It was completed in 1055.

The pagoda is entirely built with brick and wood, featuring an octagonal floor plan, thirteen stories, and a height of 84.2 meters. Its layout is created by the interlocking of two squares. With well-proportioned design and graceful outward appearance, four of its facades feature arched gateways, while the other sides have false windows adorned with carved geometric patterns. Inside, each level has staircases, and an octagonal corridor connects the floors between levels. The pagoda houses Buddha niches and painted decorations. At that time, during the Song-Liao confrontation, Dingzhou was located at the northern frontier of the Song Dynasty, holding significant military importance. To guard against the Khitan, the Song Dynasty used this pagoda to monitor enemy movements.

The Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda has a history of over 900 years and has withstood more than ten earthquakes. In June of the tenth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1844 AD), the northeastern side of the pagoda collapsed from top to bottom, damaging the integrity of this grand ancient structure. However, it still stands firmly to this day.

Known as the "Enemy-Watching Pagoda," it is the tallest existing ancient pagoda in China. Built in the fourth year of the Xianping era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1001 AD), the pagoda features intricate carvings and vivid colored paintings. Except for the eaves, balconies, doors, and windows, the exterior of the pagoda is entirely painted white, creating a striking contrast between its interior and exterior.

After the temple pagoda was completed, it became customary to open it to the public during festivals. Over the years, it has attracted many visitors, and ascending it for a distant view has become a source of local pride. Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty ordered the construction of the temple and pagoda to enshrine Buddhist scriptures and relics brought back from India by the monk Huineng. The temple was named "Kaiyuan," hence the pagoda was originally called the "Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda." Construction of the pagoda began in the second year of the Zhihe era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1055 AD) and took 55 years to complete. Hence, there is a local legend that says, “They cut down all the trees of Jiashan Mountain to build the Ding County Pagoda.” At the time, Dingzhou was a militarily strategic location close to both the Liao and Song territories. To defend against the Khitan, the Song Dynasty used the pagoda to monitor enemy activities, thus giving it the name “Enemy-Watching Pagoda” (or “Scouting Pagoda”).

Each story of the pagoda’s eaves is cantilevered outward using interlocking bricks, forming inward-curving lines that resemble wings ready to take flight. The outer walls of the pagoda have doors and windows that add a sense of openness and delicacy, enhancing the pagoda’s rich and graceful beauty. The pagoda’s top is adorned with a lotus-shaped cover decorated with honeysuckle motifs, topped with an iron disc for collecting dew and a bronze spire, all harmoniously integrated with the pagoda body. Between the outer walls and the inner core of the pagoda, corridors encircle the structure and connect with the four gates, facilitating observation in all directions. However, the northeastern part of the outer wall has partially collapsed, preventing visitors from reaching the top. The pagoda is built of brick, with an octagonal floor plan and eleven tiers of eaves, standing 84.2 meters tall. Due to its great height, numerous eaves, and wooden-style architecture, the pagoda’s body is very spacious. Apart from the lower level where the body is proportionally taller and the eaves are extended to form a platform-like base, the upper levels of the pagoda taper inward sharply, significantly reducing in height. This design maintains balanced proportions across all sections while providing a sense of stability.

Further Reading:

· Top Ten Ancient Architectural Structures in Hebei Province

· Second Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Hebei Province

· Top 50 Existing Ancient Architectural Structures in China

· First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units