Zhanggutai Pagoda

Zhanggutai Pagoda

Zhanggutai Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhanggutai Pagoda is one of the important architectural relics of the Qing Dynasty Buddhist heritage in Naiman Banner, and is a key cultural relic under autonomous region protection.

The pagoda is situated on a highland 120 meters east of the seat of Zhanggutai Sumu in Naiman Banner, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It can be seen from as far as 10 li away and is quite spectacular. The pagoda is constructed from blue bricks. In front of it are the ruins of the demolished Hushuo Temple, which once covered an area of about one square li, with its layout still faintly discernible. The pagoda stands over four zhang tall (approximately 13 meters), with a base width of more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and is divided into five tiers. The top two tiers are round in shape, featuring a copper finial band, thirteen disks (symbolizing the thirteen heavens), and Buddha eyes. The Buddha eyes face the four cardinal directions—east, west, south, and north—and house four Buddha statues, the foremost being Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Four bells hang facing each direction; they tinkle softly in the breeze and ring loudly in strong winds. The lower three tiers are square and are built in ascending layers, forming a sturdy base for the pagoda.

The second tier bears inscriptions listing the donors and designers of the pagoda, though these have now faded and are incomplete. Each tier features relief carvings of deities, symmetrically arranged on all four sides, displaying fine craftsmanship and aesthetic balance.

According to research, both the pagoda and Hushuo Temple were built in the mid-Qing Dynasty. By 1949, they had been in existence for about seven generations, or roughly 200 years. The pagoda and temple formed a single religious complex and were both significant symbols of Buddhism. In their heyday, they attracted many worshippers and were among the four major temples of Naiman. During the land reform period, Hushuo Temple was demolished, the monks dispersed, and only this pagoda remains.