Baoyan Temple Pagoda in Xiping County

Baoyan Temple Pagoda in Xiping County

Baoyan Temple Pagoda in Xiping County is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Commonly known as the "Dongguan Pagoda," Baoyan Temple Pagoda is located in the Dongguan area of Xiping County, Henan Province. It stands on the west side outside the original Baoyan Temple, hence its name. The Baoyan Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty as a Buddhist monastery but was abolished during the Republican era. Its specific location is at the intersection of Xiping Avenue and Culture Road; originally situated on the west side of Baoyan Temple, the name derives from this placement. The Baoyan Temple Pagoda was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of nearly a thousand years; the ancient pagoda is a seven-story, brick, pavilion-style structure imitating wooden architecture, with an overall creamy yellow color, a hexagonal floor plan, carved dragon heads at the corners, and relief murals along the body. It stands 28.80 meters tall, with a cast iron steeple shaped like a lotus flower at the top, measuring 2.16 meters in height.

The pagoda is a seven-story, brick, pavilion-style structure imitating wooden architecture, with a hexagonal floor plan and a height of 28.8 meters. At the top is a cast iron steeple shaped like a lotus flower, standing 2.16 meters high. Baoyan Temple Pagoda has seven levels: the first and second floors feature square arched chambers with stepped spiral staircases; the third to sixth floors have hexagonal arched chambers with well-type staircases. Climbing the stairways leads to the sixth floor, allowing visitors to enjoy a panoramic view. Architecturally, it is considered a late Northern Song Dynasty structure, with a history of over nine hundred years. Baoyan Temple Pagoda underwent two renovations, one in April 1546 (the 25th year of the Ming Jiajing reign) and another in September 1902 (the 28th year of the Qing Guangxu reign). In 1980, the provincial government allocated 23,000 yuan for a comprehensive restoration. After the renovation, the ancient pagoda, in its creamy yellow hue, appeared completely renewed. With a large Buddhist following in Xiping County, many devotees flock to the site on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month and during Buddhist festivals. The Xiping County government should consider opening the site to the public.

In 1982, it was designated as one of the first batch of Key Cultural Relics Protection Units in Xiping County.

On November 21, 1986, it was approved as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit by Henan Province.

On May 25, 2006, Baoyan Temple Pagoda, as an ancient building from the Song Dynasty, was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Source: “Sunshine Zhengyang” WeChat Public Platform

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units