Renhua Wenfeng Pagoda

Renhua Wenfeng Pagoda

Renhua Wenfeng Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Wenfeng Pagoda is located on the banks of the Jinjiang River, about one kilometer south of the county town. It was built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. According to the Tongzhi-era Renhua County Annals: “Wenfeng Pagoda is situated in Ailing Village, one li across the river to the south of the town. It was constructed in the 40th year of the Wanli reign by Magistrate Gao Yingxuan; the project was later completed by Magistrate Hu Jingqiu. Beneath the pagoda lies the Renyang Academy.”

The pagoda has an octagonal floor plan and is a nine-story hollow brick-and-stone structure in the pavilion style. It consists of a finial, body, base, and platform, with a total height of 39.15 meters (including the finial). The first level has a diameter of 10.5 meters and houses a red sandstone spiral staircase that ascends halfway around to the top level. The pagoda features well-proportioned architecture, an elegant design, exquisite craftsmanship, and a majestic presence, making it a prominent landmark of the county town.

Notes:

1. Gao Yingxuan, a native of Taihe, Jiangxi, was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and served as Magistrate of Renhua County in the 40th year of the Wanli reign. Hu Jingqiu, a native of Quanzhou, Guangxi, was also a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and served as Magistrate of Renhua County in the 46th year of the Wanli reign. The Renyang Academy has since been destroyed.

2. From 1997 to 1998, with funding from the Provincial Department of Culture and the County People’s Government, Wenfeng Pagoda underwent comprehensive restoration, reclaiming its original simple yet majestic appearance. He Weixing, the County Party Committee Secretary at the time, inscribed the name plaque for the restoration stele.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units