Xilai Literary Tower

Xilai Literary Tower

The Xilai Literary Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Pujiang County.

The Xilaichang Literary Tower began construction in the 12th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1832) and was built in front of the Guan Di Temple. It was completed in December of the 13th year of Daoguang (1833). The tower has a brick and stone structure, features a three-tiered pavilion-style design, and stands 13.6 meters tall in total. The base is a Sumeru pedestal, 1 meter high, hexagonal, with each side measuring 1.6 meters.

The first tier of the tower body is 4.3 meters high, with a relief on the front depicting a story from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms — the Three Brothers (Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei) battling Lü Bu. A fan-shaped horizontal plaque is inscribed with the three characters “Xi Zi Gong” (Temple for Respecting Written Characters), and on its sides are vertically carved couplets: “Waste ink is collected as history / Discarded writing is stored from Han and Tang.” Below that, a rectangular horizontal plaque is inscribed with “Bao Gong Tang” (Hall of Merit Reporting), with couplets on its sides: “Virtue has already bestowed life’s bounty / Now we also cherish the written word.”

On the second side, there is a relief of a deer (symbolizing official rank) and a bat (symbolizing good fortune). The brick is vertically inscribed with the name Ni Yingzuo from Nishanpo, Lotus Village. There are also two seven-character quatrains, the first one being:

The towering pagoda reaches the sky, within it lie boundless beautiful scenes.

Startled at first by jade shoots emerging from the clouds, then golden lotuses blooming by the pond. Who will be the swift one to climb up first, surely fate allows one to pluck the stars.

The second one:

The lofty pagoda stands out in full view, each tier rises sharply toward the sky. Books of Jin dynasty calligraphy are surrounded by misty light, phoenixes dance over Dan Mountain with majestic hues.

The land’s veins have nurtured relics since ancient times, literary stars truly shine with a century’s achievement. Wondrous sights possess infinite realms, masterful craftsmanship triumphs over nature.

Additionally, there is a long poem inscribed on the lower part of the tower body: “The mountain by the stream is green and serene. The water of the stream is as green as oil… The place is called Xilai, a river crossing hub, with bridge towers and temples all beautifully adorned, except for the Character Repository (not yet built). Thus, contemporaries gathered to plan together — this matter must not be delayed… Firing bricks and chiseling stones to create this marvelous sight…”

The third side also bears two seven-character quatrains, now damaged, with only phrases visible such as “Standing alone through centuries,” “All praise the sacred cauldron reaching the heavens,” “A red bird rests on the pagoda, guarded by mist and rosy clouds,” “The six-angled magnificence boasts the craftsmanship.”

The fourth side has two seven-character quatrains, also damaged, with visible phrases like “At first glance, it resembles a jeweled tower of three thousand realms,” “The colors of objects are truly like paintings by Wang Wei,” “Gathering classic texts into the jade repository,” “As if opening a fantastical realm on Yingzhou.”

The fifth side has two seven-character quatrains, also damaged, with visible phrases such as “The towering pagoda assists the sacred endeavor,” “Here by the stream, literary teachings are revered today,” “The pagoda’s tiers lean against the blue sky,” “Dragons fly above the pavilion with sunny clouds embracing,” “Broken ancient texts, dust-free, return to the jade repository.”

The sixth side has two seven-character quatrains, one damaged, with visible phrases like “Lofty and transcendent, the Xi Zi Gong,” “Dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing fill the scenery.”

The other one is intact:

Majestic achievement completes a serene realm, clearly the pavilion was meticulously carved. Classical texts have since ancient times preserved stray characters, feng shui today awakens dormant dragons.

Fivefold rosy light warms the Wild Goose Pagoda, double streams’ cloud shadows brighten Yingzhou. Behold those who diligently gather virtue, their timeless virtues praised through grand designs.

Below is the completion date: “19th day of the Dali month (December) of the 13th year of Daoguang.”

The second tier has six round brick pillars, 1.4 meters high with a circumference of 35 centimeters. The pillars are carved with phoenixes and flowers. Between the pillars, railings are 63 cm long and 18 cm high, with swastikas (symbolizing good fortune) carved at both ends, chrysanthemum patterns in the middle, and each of the six angled eaves extending 1 meter outward, with iron hooks on the upturned corners hanging bells. One side has a niche, with a horizontal plaque reading “Ji Shan Tang” (Hall of Accumulated Goodness), beneath which sits a deity statue. The other side has a niche, with a plaque inscribed “Si Fang Ping An” (Peace in All Directions), beneath which sits the Earth God.

The third tier, beneath the front eave, has a plaque inscribed “Wen Feng Ta” (Literary Wind Tower). Below is a niche, with a plaque reading “Kui Xing Ge” (Kui Star Pavilion), inside which is a statue of Kui Star, with the couplet: “The top of the turtle head is divided to grant life / The tip of the brush weighs carefully.” On the other side is a niche, with a plaque reading “Guanyin Ge” (Guanyin Pavilion), housing a statue of Guanyin seated on a lotus throne, with the couplet: “Sweet dew from the immortal’s palm / Compassionate clouds shelter the mortal world.” The tower top is a hexagonal pyramidal roof, with stone carvings of coiled dragons and lotuses.

On October 9, 1982, the People’s Government of Pujiang County announced the Xilai Literary Tower as a county-level cultural relic protection unit.