The Seven-Story Pagoda Built by Wang Faming

The Seven-Story Pagoda Built by Wang Faming

The Seven-Story Pagoda Built by Wang Faming is a protected cultural heritage site of Henan Province.

The Seven-Story Pagoda Built by Wang Faming is located at the former site of Tonghe Temple in Matun Village, Xiaodian Town, Hongqi District, Xinxiang City. It was originally built in the third year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (715). Originally a seven-story stone pagoda, it was commonly known as the Small Stone Pagoda. In June 1963, it was designated as a protected cultural heritage site at the Henan provincial level. It was damaged during the Cultural Revolution, leaving only three stories remaining, with a current height of 1.8 meters.

The base consists of three square tiers made from a single block of bluestone, tapering proportionally in the style of a ruyi pedestal. The first story of the pagoda body is well-preserved and comprises the main body and the eaves. The main body has two layers: the lower layer features Tang Dynasty stone carvings. The southern face has a niche door, inside which is a bas-relief of one Buddha and two bodhisattvas. The sides of the niche door are adorned with floral and figure motifs, and above the niche door is an inscription reading “The Seven-Story Pagoda Built by Wang Faming.” The other three sides of the main body are engraved with line carvings of Buddhas, donors, and inscriptions. The upper layer of the main body is a Song Dynasty reconstruction, with inscriptions dated to the third year of the Tian Sheng era (1025) and the fifth year of the Qing Li era (1055), both recording the renovation of the pagoda. The eaves above consist of single square bluestone slabs, each side carved with floral patterns. The second story of the pagoda body is only 14 centimeters high, with a small Buddha niche carved in the center and floral designs surrounding it. The third story of the pagoda body is incomplete.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Henan Province