Baofeng Wenbi Peak Pagoda

Baofeng Wenbi Peak Pagoda

Baofeng Wenbi Peak Pagoda is a cultural heritage protection unit of Henan Province.

Wenbi Peak is located on Wenbi Mountain, 2.5 kilometers south of the county town. It houses the Wenbi Peak Pagoda, also known as Wenfeng Pagoda, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty and is listed as part of the second batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units.

The pagoda was constructed in the 47th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty as a solid hexagonal brick structure. It stands on a hexagonal bluestone base and has a hexagonal pointed top. With no floors or doors and windows, it slightly resembles a huabiao and features a distinctive shape and unique style, making it a rare example among pagodas in Henan Province.

On the southern side above the top of Wenbi Peak Pagoda is inlaid a stone stele. The inscription on the stele is carved in intaglio regular script, mainly recording the names and backgrounds of the person who oversaw the pagoda’s construction and the donors. Among the donors is the name of Niu Jinxing, the chancellor who assisted Li Zicheng in the Dashun regime. This matches the record in the “Record Stele of the Reconstruction of the Guanyin Bodhisattva Pagoda at Xiangshan Temple,” inscribed on the reverse side of the stele authored by Liu Ruozai, the top imperial examination scholar (Zhuangyuan) of the Wu Chen Year in the Ming Dynasty, in the third year of the Chongzhen era: “Niu Jinxing, a Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level) from our county, passed the examination in the Dingmao Year of the Chongzhen era.”

About five li south of Baofeng County Town lies an earthen ridge that stretches east to west. Since this ridge is situated south of the Confucian Temple and aligns with it from north to south, it is called Brush Mountain. Atop the ancient archery platform on the mountain peak stands a pagoda approximately 15 meters tall. Its lower part is made of stone and upper part of brick, forming a hexagonal prism-shaped structure. Its full name is Wenbi Pagoda, commonly known as Wenfeng Pagoda. It is a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit.

This pagoda was built in July of the 47th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1619 AD). The reason for constructing the pagoda was related to the cultural development of Baofeng at the time. According to the Baofeng County Annals of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty: “...The county magistrate of the earlier Ming Dynasty encouraged scholars through the imperial examination system, trusting the words of fortune-tellers and thus initiating its construction, naming it Wenbi Peak Pagoda.” From this, we can understand the reason for building the pagoda. In ancient times, the cultural attainment of a county was judged by the number of individuals who achieved top honors in the imperial examination system. According to the Baofeng County Annals of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, within the 202 years from the 18th year of the Yongle era to the 47th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1418–1619 AD), Baofeng produced only twelve successful candidates in the provincial-level examinations (Juren). Moreover, during the eight examination sessions spanning twenty-four years from the Renzi Year of the Jiajing era to the Guisou Year of the Wanli era, not a single person from Baofeng passed. As for those who passed the highest imperial examination (Jinshi), the number was even more pitiful—only one person, Li Bingren, succeeded in becoming a Jinshi over the 250 years from the Hongwu era to the Wanli era. Therefore, scholars, local gentry, and magistrates were eager to find ways to change this situation. Magistrate Fan Tingbi, who had great faith in the words of fortune-tellers, donated funds to build Wenbi Peak Pagoda atop Brush Mountain in front of the Confucian Temple. He also erected a stele at the base of the pagoda with the inscription: “The literary peak soars to the heavens, producing top imperial scholars generation after generation,” in order to encourage students to devote themselves to their studies and strive for top honors in the imperial examinations.

As a result, the scholarly youth, Juren (successful provincial examination candidates), Gongsheng (tribute students), notable figures, and patriots of Baofeng all donated funds enthusiastically. Today, on the southern side of the pagoda, about six meters above the ground, there is an inscribed stele listing the names and statuses of many donors who contributed to the pagoda’s construction. Among them, the most eye-catching is “Gongsheng Niu Jinxing,” which provides valuable evidence for today’s historians researching Niu Jinxing’s place of origin.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Henan Province