Liaoning Qingzhou White Pagoda

Liaoning Qingzhou White Pagoda

The Liaoning Qingzhou White Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

The real name of the Liaoning Qingzhou White Pagoda is the Shakyamuni Relic Pagoda. It was built by Buddhists to enshrine the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha after his cremation. Due to its white appearance, it is commonly known as the Liaoning Qingzhou White Pagoda, and local herders call it "Jinjin Chahan Suobulga." The pagoda is situated on the alluvial plain of the Chaganmulin River, northeast of the seat of Soburiga Sumu in Bairin Right Banner, Chifeng City. It lies to the northwest of Qingzhou City and is 300 kilometers from Chifeng.

The pagoda is an octagonal, seven-story brick-and-wood structure with a total height of 73.27 meters. It was first built in 1047. The overall appearance of the pagoda is pure white like jade, tall and graceful. Set on the plain, it stands straight into the blue sky, backed by green mountains and facing clear waters. The doors, windows, lintels, carved brick arches, and spandrels of the pagoda are inlaid with 856 round and diamond-shaped bronze mirrors. The corners feature carved brick columns. On the eight ridges at the top of the pagoda, there is a bronze figure on each ridge, with a bronze chi-dragon head in front of each figure, and a bronze phoenix in front of each dragon head. The seven stories of the pagoda have a total of 28 false doors, with a heavenly king relief on each side of every door, totaling 56 heavenly king reliefs across the pagoda. Each heavenly king wears a helmet, dons armor, and holds a sword or axe, appearing majestic, heroic, and vivid. The reliefs on the pagoda vividly express the religious philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shamanism, seamlessly blending together and subtly reflecting the distinctive "stellar mysticism" characteristic of Buddhism during the Liao Dynasty.

During the 1989 restoration of the pagoda, a batch of Liao Dynasty scriptures and woodblock-printed Buddhist texts were discovered in secret chambers such as the finial spire, hidden according to Liao Dynasty Buddhist rituals. Among them were 108 wooden dhāraṇī pagodas containing woodblock-printed dhāraṇī scriptures.