Yuanjiang Kuixing Tower

Yuanjiang Kuixing Tower

Yuanjiang Kuixing Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

Kuixing Tower (named after the original clay sculpture of the “Kuixing Pointing at the Dipper” deity, commonly known as the “Octagonal Pavilion”) is located at the northeast corner of Yanhe Road in Yuanjiang City. Built in the 59th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1794 AD), the tower is a pavilion-style civil-structure building with a pyramidal roof. The tower stands 15 meters tall, with three stories, three eaves, and six sides, and is beautifully constructed. It possesses both the delicate elegance of southern ancient architecture and the solemn dignity of northern ancient architecture. The base of the tower is built from granite, standing 1.85 meters high, with each of its six sides measuring 5.4 meters, covering an area of 76.14 square meters. The three exterior tiers of the tower are covered with glazed tubular tiles: the second and first levels are yellow, while the middle level is green. Each tier features upturned flying eaves with ornamental ridge ends made of glazed materials — dragons at the bottom, phoenixes in the middle, and fish at the top — all vividly and beautifully crafted. The eighteen ridges on the three eave levels are adorned with glazed floral-pattern bricks featuring patterns of winter plum blossoms and enduring grass. The tower’s pyramidal top consists of three spherical glazed gourds that glitter golden from afar, making it a truly magnificent sight.

The first level of Kuixing Tower is enclosed by brick walls, 35 centimeters thick, with no windows on its six sides. The southeast side serves as the front, where a door faces Lingyun Pagoda on Wanzi Lake. The arched doorway is 2.56 meters high and 1.1 meters wide, with two thick wooden doors that can be locked. Inside the pavilion, there are six golden pillars, each one Chinese foot in diameter, extending from the ground floor to the top and serving as the main structural supports. The second and third floors, along with the rooftop, are entirely made of wood. The second and third floors have windows on all six sides, with 36 operable window panels per floor, each intricately carved with elegant designs. Each window is accompanied by a corridor and windbreak panels. A wooden staircase connects the ground floor to the upper levels, allowing visitors to climb and open the windows to enjoy views of the Dongting Lake scenery and the bustling streets below.

In 1963, the Yuanjiang County government allocated funds to renovate the tower, and in June 1998, the Yuanjiang Municipal Government carried out a comprehensive restoration. The tower is currently well-preserved.

Historical Background

Kuixing Tower was built in the 59th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1794 AD), funded through donations from literati and gentry of the time, and primarily supervised by Bo Jingchun, the then Magistrate of Yuanjiang County.

Originally, a clay sculpture of the “Kuixing Deity” was enshrined on the second floor of the tower (destroyed in the early years of the People’s Republic). During the Qing Dynasty, scholars seeking academic success often visited Kuixing Tower to kneel and pray under the deity’s figure for blessings.

Before the founding of the People’s Republic, the tower remained open to the public — during the day, literati and gentry came to burn incense and pray, while at night, it served as shelter for homeless wanderers.

In the early 20th century, a young Mao Zedong, while studying in Changsha, visited Kuixing Tower during a summer social investigation trip through Anhua, Ningxiang, Yiyang, and Yuanjiang.

During the Anti-Japanese War, Shuai Mengqi, who oversaw the underground work of the Chang-Yi Central County Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, held secret meetings in this tower.

In 1962, Shuai Mengqi returned to Hunan for an inspection and visited the tower again, instructing that it be restored and preserved.

In 1963, the Yuanjiang County People’s Government allocated funds for its restoration.

In May 1980, the Yuanjiang County People’s Government designated the tower as a county-level key cultural relic protection unit.

In June 1998, the Yuanjiang Municipal People’s Government allocated funds for a comprehensive restoration.

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Hunan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units