Wanshou Temple Pagoda Forest

Wanshou Temple Pagoda Forest

Wanshou Temple Pagoda Forest is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Wanshou Temple Pagoda Forest is located at the eastern foot of Donglin Mountain in Sanji Township, Pingshan County, Hebei Province.

Wanshou Temple Pagoda Forest covers an area of approximately 66,670 square meters. Originally, there were 23 memorial pagodas for high monks of Wanshou Temple, but now only 13 pagodas in two groups remain. Among them, Pagoda No. 2 is the tomb pagoda of Prince Tianshou of the Tang Dynasty (also known by his dharma name Yuanye), hence it is also called the Tomb Pagoda Group of the Tang Prince. The main body of the prince’s pagoda stands 6.5 meters tall with a base circumference of 8 meters. It has an octagonal shape, with an arched door on the front façade and two square lattice blind windows on each of the other sides. The eaves feature single-curved four-tiered bracket sets, and above the eaves is an inverted lotus gourd-shaped finial, giving the structure a robust and steady appearance. Except for Pagodas No. 1 and 2, which were built during the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, the others date from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

In 2006, Wanshou Temple Pagoda Forest was included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council as an ancient architectural complex dating from the Five Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units