Jueshan Temple Brick Pagoda

Jueshan Temple Brick Pagoda

Jueshan Temple Brick Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jueshan Temple Brick Pagoda (Fifth Batch of National Protected Sites)

Jueshan Temple Pagoda

Era: Liao Dynasty

Location: 14 kilometers southeast of Lingqiu County on the western side of Bijia Mountain

Also known as Puzhao Temple. The temple was originally built in the seventh year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (483 AD), rebuilt in the fifth year of the Da’an era of the Liao Dynasty (1089 AD), and renovated during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The existing brick pagoda is an original structure from the Liao Dynasty, while the rest were built during the Ming and Qing periods.

The temple complex follows the mountain terrain, faces south, and measures 38 meters from north to south and 24.4 meters from east to west, covering an area of 927.2 square meters. The temple is built along three axes, consisting of three courtyards. The central axis features, in sequence, the Mountain Gate, Bell and Drum Towers, Heavenly King Hall, Skanda Hall, and Mahavira Hall; the eastern axis includes the Kuixing Pavilion, Stele Pavilion, Banging Bell Tower, Vajra Hall, and Maitreya Hall; the western axis comprises the Wenchang Pavilion, Brick Pagoda, Scripture Repository, Arhat Hall, and Guizhen Hall among other structures.

The brick pagoda is located in the middle of the front courtyard of the western axis and is the main structure of Jueshan Temple. Built in the sixth year of the Da’an era of the Liao Dynasty (1090 AD), it is one of the better-preserved and earlier-built dense-eave brick pagodas in China. The pagoda has an octagonal plan, with thirteen tiers of eaves, and a total height of 44.23 meters. The base of the pagoda is 6.20 meters on each side and consists of three parts: the Sumeru pedestal, the terrace, and the upturned lotus. The Sumeru pedestal has an octagonal plan, stands 3.58 meters tall; the terrace sits atop the pedestal, also octagonal, and is 1.27 meters high; the upturned lotus is above the terrace, totaling 1.43 meters in height. The carvings on the base are exquisitely crafted. In addition to the bracket sets and other structural architectural components, there are also many reliefs depicting flowers, plants, celestial beings, beasts, musicians, dancers, and human figures. These are rendered using deep relief or openwork carving techniques, showcasing rich and graceful designs. The bracket arms are particularly outstanding, with their curved lines forming graceful arcs, demonstrating mature craftsmanship.

The inner walls of the first-floor central chamber are adorned with Liao Dynasty murals on all eight sides, with a remaining area of 62 square meters. The content includes images of bodhisattvas, wrathful deities, and flying apsaras. Except for a small portion that has been repainted in later periods, most of the murals remain original works from the Liao Dynasty. The facial features, garments, and painting techniques still follow the style of Tang Dynasty art. Murals from the Liao Dynasty are rarely found in temples, and the survival of these inside the Jueshan Temple Pagoda provides extremely valuable material for the study of Liao Dynasty mural art.