Chaoyang Wenguang Pagoda

Chaoyang Wenguang Pagoda

Wenguang Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Wenguang Pagoda is an ancient pagoda located in the center of Miancheng Town, Chaoyang City. Originally built in the first year of the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty (1131), it is a symbol of the ancient city of Chaoyang. It is one of the best-preserved ancient pagodas in Guangdong Province and is a key cultural relic protection unit of the province. Located in Chaoyang, Shantou City, Guangdong Province, Wenguang Pagoda is an iconic landmark of the ancient city of Chaoyang. Its predecessor was called the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, which was first built in the second year of the Xianchun era of the Tang Dynasty but later collapsed. It was rebuilt during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, renovated in the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, and underwent several restorations after the liberation. It is one of the best-preserved ancient pagodas in Guangdong Province and is a key cultural relic protection unit of the province. Climbing the pagoda offers a panoramic view of Miancheng.

Wenguang Pagoda is an ancient pagoda located in the center of Miancheng Town, Chaoyang City. Originally built in the first year of the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty (1131), it later collapsed. In the second year of the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty (1266), when the Taoist priest Zhao Ruchi supervised its reconstruction, he placed a thousand Buddha statues inside the pagoda, and it was then called the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, which was later abandoned. In the eighth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1635), Magistrate Qi Jiazhi oversaw its rebuilding, and a local resident, Wu Shixun, renamed the pagoda Wenguang Pagoda. A finely engraved stone stele was also erected: “Record of Magistrate Qi of Chaoyang County Building the Wenguang Pagoda.” The pagoda has an octagonal floor plan, faces south, and is built in a pavilion-style structure using stone and brick. It stands 42.42 meters tall, is hollow, and has seven stories. Each level inside the pagoda is connected by spiral stone stairs; from the second to the sixth floor, each level has four doors leading to the outer corridor. In the 20th year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1815), Magistrate Tang Wenzao of Chaoyang carried out a comprehensive restoration. The stone plaque above the pagoda’s entrance prominently features the name “Wenguang Pagoda,” with “Jiaqing Yihai, Early Winter” inscribed on the left and “Erected by Tang Wenzao of Yuzhang” on the right. On both sides of the pagoda entrance are couplets inscribed by Tang Wenzao: “A thousand years of literary brush strokes resonate through metal and stone; a hundred zhang of radiant light pierces through the constellations.”

Since its reconstruction in the eighth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty under Magistrate Qi Jiazhi, the pagoda has undergone multiple renovations, among which the comprehensive restoration led by Tang Wenzao in the 20th year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1815) was the most thorough. Further repairs were carried out in 1956 and 1981.

In June 1989, the People's Government of Guangdong Province designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units