Dongyuan Wenge Pagoda

Dongyuan Wenge Pagoda

The Wenge Pagoda is located by the Lanxi River at the water outlet in Xi Qi Village, Huangcun Town, Dongyuan County. Upon entering the village, you can see it from afar. This pagoda is classified as a “feng shui pagoda.” It is a county-level cultural heritage protection unit.

The Wenge Pagoda was first built in the fourth year of the Tongzhi era (1865). The pagoda has eight sides and five stories, constructed with a mixture of lime, sand, and stone, and is approximately twenty-two meters tall. The height of each story of the pagoda decreases progressively from bottom to top, and the outline of each level gradually tapers inward, giving the pagoda a slightly parabolic shape. In addition to the three layers of linear bricks and two layers of dentil bricks extending out on each story, the pagoda body is mostly coated in lime plaster. The main gate is 2.2 meters high, above which hangs an oblong horizontal plaque inscribed with the two large characters “Wenge” (文阁). The plaque is well preserved with clear lettering, and is engraved with the couplet: “The literary pagoda shines brilliantly, its radiance soaring thousands of feet; the blossoming brush strokes dazzle, sweeping away a thousand armies.” The inscription “Wenge” is believed to be the handwriting of Cheng Meige, a local scholar, hence the name Wenge Pagoda. On the second floor and above, there are false and real windows on all eight sides—specifically, the south side of the second floor, the north side of the third floor, the west side of the fourth floor, and the east side of the fifth floor feature real windows, while the other sides have false ones. These windows served defensive purposes against outside intrusions. Each floor inside the pagoda has a floorboard, and visitors can climb up to the top level by following the stairs from right to left. From the rooftop, one can overlook more than half of Huangcun Town. A large water tank is placed at the top of the pagoda spire, which is covered and decorated with lime to resemble a lotus shape.

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