Xiuding Temple Pagoda

Xiuding Temple Pagoda

Xiuding Temple Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Xiuding Temple Pagoda is located at the southern foot of Qingliang Mountain in the Taihang Mountain area, 35 kilometers northwest of Anyang County, Henan Province.

Xiuding Temple Pagoda is situated within the original Xiuding Temple, which is surrounded by overlapping peaks and majestic mountains, with springs flowing around like ribbons, creating exceptionally beautiful scenery. It is said that the temple was founded by the monk Zhang Meng in the 18th year of the Taihe era (494 AD) during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Originally named "Tiancheng Temple," it was expanded during the Northern Qi Dynasty and renamed "Heshui Temple." The temple was grand in scale, housing over a hundred monks and guarded by a strong military presence. Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi visited the temple three times. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the temple was further expanded and became even more magnificent, and was renamed "Xiuding Temple." By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the temple had fallen into ruin, leaving only the pagoda, now known as Xiuding Temple Pagoda. The pagoda was built during the Zhenguan era (627–649 AD) of the Tang Dynasty. It is a single-story brick relief stupa, entirely coated in vermilion red, and is commonly referred to locally as the "Red Pagoda."

The pagoda originally stood 20 meters tall and consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the top. The base is octagonal in plan, featuring a Sumeru pedestal with a mid-section waist. The body is square, with an arched gate on the southern wall. The lintel above the gate is engraved with multiple niches and inscriptions from the Tang and Song dynasties, including one reading: "Yexian Kanggu, Magistrate of Ye County, Xiantong 11th Year, 5th Month (870 AD)." The top features a bowl-shaped cover, topped with an upturned lotus supporting a precious vase, with a spherical flame jewel finial at the very peak. The entire top is exquisitely ornate and dignified, vibrant and colorful—extremely rare among Tang Dynasty pagodas—but is now largely damaged.

The body of the pagoda is constructed from over 5,000 relief bricks, molded into patterns such as diamonds, triangles, rectangles, and parallelograms. The carvings are rich and varied in subject matter, including 72 types of designs such as green dragons, white tigers, immortals, warriors, guardians, strength deities, attendants, flying apsaras, children, treasure elephants, fierce lions, heavenly steeds, pythons, flowers, and colored ribbons. The carving techniques are bold and powerful, with vivid and lifelike images that seem to leap off the walls—true masterpieces of Tang Dynasty art. The southern wall of the pagoda has an arched gate, also built from relief bricks. The semicircular stone lintel above the gate features a niche of the Three Ages of Buddha, carved with nine figures including the Buddha, disciples, bodhisattvas, and heavenly kings. The back of the Buddha figures is adorned with flame-patterned halos, reflecting the artistic style of the flourishing Tang Dynasty. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units