Kaihua Temple Pagoda

Kaihua Temple Pagoda

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

Kaihua Temple is located in the southwest corner of Yuanshi County. Most of the original temple structures have been destroyed, leaving only one brick pagoda standing. The "Yuanshi County Annals" compiled in the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931) records: “This pagoda was built during the Yuan-Wei period. The temple originally had two pagodas, hence it was called the Twin Pagodas. It was renovated during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, it was known as Kaihua Temple, and the name remains to this day, with only one of the pagodas still standing.”

Kaihua Temple Pagoda is a close-eaved solid brick pagoda, built on a brick-piled platform of approximately 7 square meters. The body of the pagoda is octagonal in plan, with nine stories and an overall height of 23 meters. The first story is relatively tall, featuring a lotus petal-shaped pedestal above the platform. Above the lotus petals, on each side of the octagonal pagoda body, false doors and windows are carved from bricks. The false doors are all arched, with double doors tightly shut, adorned with floral carvings above. Each level above the first is constructed in imitation of wooden architecture, with arched brackets carved from bricks that support the projecting eaves. In addition to the corner brackets, each side features one set of intermediate brackets, totaling 16 sets of brackets per level. Between the eaves of each level are embedded inscribed bricks bearing the names of donors and patrons. Although the spire has lost its original form, the iron finial remains, with inscriptions cast onto it—though these are now illegible.

In May 2013, Kaihua Temple Pagoda was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further reading:

· Second Group of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units