Laiyuan Xingwen Pagoda

Laiyuan Xingwen Pagoda

Xingwen Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Xingwen Pagoda is located in Laiyuan County, Hebei Province.

Xingwen Pagoda was originally built in the third year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (744 AD). Historical records indicate that in the eighteenth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1539 AD), repairs were jointly carried out by both Buddhist and Taoist communities. Experts have confirmed that the pagoda’s architectural style belongs to the Liao Dynasty and that it holds high historical, scientific, and artistic value.

The pagoda is an octagonal, five-tiered, solid brick structure. After renovation, its total height was remeasured at 27 meters, covering a ground area of 37.6 square meters. The pagoda consists of three parts: the Sumeru pedestal, the main body, and the spire. The first tier is the tallest, with each successive tier decreasing evenly in height. Except for the corner beams, the entire structure imitates wooden components. The lower band of the Sumeru pedestal is carved with upward-facing lotus petals, while the upper band features downward-facing ones. The body is constructed with hollow brick strips, and the eight corner brackets are adorned with decorative patterns. The top of the pagoda takes an octagonal spire form. The spire sits atop a small Sumeru pedestal, on which floral patterns are built from brick. Inside the floral motif is a cast iron octagonal inverted bowl, topped with a four-section iron spire. The top of the first section of the spire is a lotus flower, while the second, third, and fourth sections are precious bead ornaments.

The decorations on Xingwen Pagoda are elaborate. Both the eaves and the balconies are supported by bracket sets (dougong). There is one set at each column head and one set between columns. On the first tier, the eave bracket sets have two projecting arms in the wupu-style arrangement, while the balcony bracket sets feature a single three-riser unit, with the column head brackets also incorporating angled braces. The eaves are supported by horizontal beams, with the octagonal eave surfaces paved with square bricks. The balconies are fitted with railings, where the railing panels are made of brick strips, and the tops of the railing posts are spherical.

After a thousand years of natural weathering, the fifth tier of the pagoda has severely eroded, and the spire has tilted, turning the structure into a "slanted spire pagoda." In 2005, Xingwen Pagoda underwent restoration, during which the original components were preserved to the greatest extent possible.

In 2006, as an ancient structure from the Liao Dynasty, Xingwen Pagoda was included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units