Peng’an Jieyin Pagoda

Peng’an Jieyin Pagoda

The Jieyin Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Jieyin Pagoda, dating back over 400 years to the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, is located on the cliffs at the summit of Xiyang Mountain, which stands at an elevation of 557.2 meters and lies at the border between Qilong Township and Jinxi Town.

According to the *Old Records of Peng’an County*: “Xiyang Mountain features steep cliffs rising thousands of feet high, with a large cave inside that can accommodate a thousand people, and beside it lies the Fairy Stone.” It is also said that due to an earthquake, a rhinoceros-like animal was spotted here, hence the mountain was once called “Xiyang Mountain” (Rhino-Sun Mountain), which now implies “the sunset shining on the mountain makes it even more beautiful.”

The pagoda is majestic and graceful, exuding a grand aura. It has three stories, standing over 5 meters tall, with six carved stone walls on each level, totaling 18 stone walls. Each wall is adorned with exquisite Buddhist murals and inscriptions. At the top front of the pagoda is a rectangular stone plaque inscribed with the three characters “Jieyin Pagoda” (Welcome Pagoda) in elegant regular script, flowing like clouds and as free and graceful as calligraphy, with each character measuring about 15 cm in both length and width. Below the plaque, there are two intricately carved hollow stone doors, each about 30 cm high and 20 cm wide, appearing as if they are about to open, giving the impression that an immortal might step out from within. The base of the pagoda is shaped like a lotus flower, carved from a massive natural rock. The enormous lotus-shaped base is exquisitely sculpted and lifelike, resembling a water lily on the verge of blooming—vivid, delicate, and captivating. Notably, on the second level of the right side of the pagoda body, two stone walls prominently feature the inscriptions “The Imperial Reign Lasts Forever” and “The Emperor’s Path Prospered Endlessly.” The front of the base is carved with the elaborate design of “A Golden Dragon Playing with a Pearl,” while the left side of the pagoda body bears the 12-character inscription “Erected by the Monks of This Temple in the 42nd Year of the Wanli Era of the Great Ming.”

Qilong Township in Peng’an County is a place with a long history and profound cultural heritage. To this day, the township still preserves numerous ancient tombs from the Ming and Qing dynasties, which feature grand structures and highly refined carvings. It is said that some of these tombs belonged to high-ranking officials and nobles from the Ming and Qing periods. Especially notable is the Jieyin Pagoda located beside the cliffs of Xiyang Mountain. The pagoda boldly displays inscriptions and decorative patterns such as “The Imperial Reign Lasts Forever,” “The Emperor’s Path Prospered Endlessly,” and “A Golden Dragon Playing with a Pearl.” From this, it can be inferred that this Ming Dynasty pagoda from the Wanli era, which is over 400 years old, was very likely the stupa of either an accomplished monk who had earned the favor of the Ming emperor or a Ming imperial family member who believed in Buddhism and came to cultivate in seclusion on Xiyang Mountain in Peng’an hundreds of years ago.

Protected area: 30 meters beyond the pagoda base.

Construction control zone: 30 meters beyond the protected area.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Sichuan Province