Zhengjiang Pagoda

Zhengjiang Pagoda

Zhengjiang Pagoda is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

Zhengjiang Pagoda is located on the Beijiang River dike in Zhengjiang Village, Shantang Town, Qingxin County. It was initiated for construction in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1891) by He Fuhai, the then magistrate of Qingyuan. The pagoda stands 35.1 meters tall, with the first floor having sides 3.5 meters long and walls 2.6 meters thick. Made of brick, it is a nine-story, octagonal pavilion-style structure, adorned with carved patterns at the base. Each face is 3.5 meters wide, with a built-up area of 59 square meters. Each story features protruding eaves created by alternating dentil bricks and corbel bricks. Each floor has two true arched doorways, while the rest are false arched ones. The corner pillars, door frames, window frames, and eave bricks are all painted vermilion red. The iron pagoda finial consists of an inverted bowl, nine layers of discs, and a gourd. The second-floor lintel stone plaque is inscribed with the four characters “中流砥柱” (Pillar in Midstream).

Legend has it that after local gentry pooled funds to build Aotou Pagoda (commonly known as “Feishui Pagoda”) on the west bank of Feishui River, the “ao” (mythical turtle-like creature’s head) was subdued, and from then on the Binjiang River estuary became calm. Later, people said that about eight or nine li downstream from Aotou Pagoda, near where the Qinhuang River meets the Beijiang River, the “ao tail” often swayed and capsized many ships. As a result, local gentry again raised funds to construct “Zhengjiang Pagoda.” “Zheng” is a homophone for “zhen” (to suppress), so “Zhengjiang” means “suppressing the river.”

Zhengjiang Pagoda serves as a crucial gateway at the lower pass of the Qingyuan urban water outlet. Across from the pagoda lies the Wen Pavilion. The primary purpose of constructing Zhengjiang Pagoda was to revive Qingyuan’s literary culture. Once Magistrate He proposed the idea, Qingyuan gentry such as Qiu Xianxi, Zhu Runfang, Lai Zihong, Chen Yuanqing, Zhu Dongcai, Huang Kunxiong, Wu Yuanhui, and Mai Yingfang took the lead in donating funds and raising money from various sources. A total of 3,219 taels were raised, in addition to 3,580 taels of accumulated “bandit-catching” bonuses and over 500 taels of public funds from the “Three Schools.” The total cost of building Zhengjiang Pagoda exceeded 7,180 taels. A stone stele titled “Record of the Construction of the New Wen Pagoda and Wen Pavilion,” written by Tan Shizhen, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations from Nanhai and the head of Fengcheng Academy, and erected on Qingyun Road in the county town, details this significant event. The statement in the text, “The city should build a Wen Pagoda to secure the lower pass and establish a Wen Pavilion to control the central path, then the rise of literary fortune can be eagerly anticipated,” serves as the best commentary on the construction of Zhengjiang Pagoda.

Zhengjiang Pagoda is a replica of Aotou Pagoda. It faces Aotou Pagoda, which is located about eight or nine li away, and a Wen Pavilion was also built across the river to control the central path. In the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1892), Magistrate He Fuhai relocated over ten households from other areas to protect Zhengjiang Pagoda. He organized a local watch system, with residents farming by day and patrolling by night. Later, a village gradually formed here, and today it has grown into the bustling Zhengjiang Village Committee. Elders in the area have countless stories about the ancient pagoda and the village.

Coincidentally, in the year of the Xinmao imperial examination, Qingyuan achieved success in both civil and military examinations. In the 19th year of the Guangxu reign (1893), during the Enke examination, there was another success in the civil examination. By the last imperial examination of the Qing Dynasty, the Jiachen year (1904), Zhu Ruzhen even ranked as the second-place scholar (Zhuangyuan).

Later, the trend of constructing Wen Pagodas in Qingyuan gradually gained momentum. Wen Pagodas were built in various locations, including Huihu Dapugang Village (now Taiping Building), Guanqian Market (formerly within Hengshi), Xiayue Village (now Jiangkou), Zhouxin Qixinggang, Zhukeng Yujimiao, Longjing Shuidong Village Wenbiling, Shijiao Huiqi Mountain, Shantang Mayuan Liyujie Dagangtou, and Sankeng Yawen Wenbigan. These structures became a beautiful sight across Qingyuan at the time.

Today, the dust of history has settled, and many notable figures have faded away with the flowing river. Only Zhengjiang Pagoda and Aotou Pagoda remain silently guarding the riverside, witnessing the development of Qingyuan. From a high vantage point, the surging Beijiang River and the majestic ancient pagoda form a breathtaking scene, inspiring awe and a deep sense of pride.

Zhengjiang Pagoda was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit by the Qingyuan County People’s Government in 1962 and as one of the first batch of county-level cultural relic protection units by the Qingxin County People’s Government in 1995.

Shantang Town: Located in the southern part of Qingxin County, Shantang Town is 17 kilometers from the county seat and only 80 kilometers from Guangzhou. It borders the Beijiang River to the east and adjoins Sanshui District of Foshan to the south, enjoying a uniquely advantageous geographical location. The town covers a total area of 84.6 square kilometers, with over 43,000 mu of cultivated land. It governs 14 administrative villages and 1 neighborhood committee, comprising 272 villager groups, 13,000 farming households, and a total population of 56,000. The area benefits from convenient transportation—waterways connect Shaoguan upstream and Guangzhou and Hong Kong-Macao downstream, while land routes include the X365 line and Qing-Si Highway running through the town. All village roads have been paved with cement. The area enjoys ample electricity supply and convenient communication... More detailed information about Shantang Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units