Qingfeng Pagoda

Qingfeng Pagoda

Qingfeng Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Liao Dynasty

Address: Xiwujiazi Township, Chaoyang County, Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, Wujiazi Village

Qingfeng Pagoda was built during the Liao Dynasty. It is a square, hollow, thirteen-story, dense-eave style brick pagoda, with a current height of approximately 36 meters. The base is rectangular, measuring 8 meters from north to south and 4.8 meters from east to west. It is severely damaged. On the southern side of the base, there is a scroll door with a gatehouse-style porch, and the brick-carved bracket sets support the projecting eaves — this is a distinctive feature of the pagoda’s design. Through the entrance, one can see the interior has been damaged. On the northern side, there is a niche housing a Buddha statue, with some surviving details. The eastern and western sides each have a niche containing a statue, possibly of bodhisattvas. The southern and northern niches do not contain statues. The body of the pagoda is divided into sections. The central parts of each facade feature a high relief of a seated Buddha, crowned with a canopy above, lotus petals supporting the feet below, and a sacred throne. On either side of the Buddha are attendant bodhisattvas. Outside the bodhisattvas stand small square, thirteen-story, dense-eave brick pagodas, together forming the Eight Great Pagodas, though the inscriptions have fallen off. The four corners of the pagoda body are adorned with brick-carved columns, supporting bracket sets with one block and three cantilevers at the corners, along with three intermediate bracket sets that hold up the first tier of eaves. From the second tier upward, the eaves are formed by corbelled brickwork, covered with tiles, most of which have fallen off. The top two tiers of the pagoda are severely collapsed, and the finial is missing.

Each central facade of the pagoda body features a high relief of a seated Buddha, with a canopy above to ward off dust, lotus petals below to support the feet, and a sacred throne. On either side are attendant bodhisattvas. Outside the bodhisattvas are small square, thirteen-story, dense-eave brick pagodas, together forming the Eight Great Pagodas, although the inscriptions have fallen off. The four corners of the pagoda body are decorated with brick-carved columns, supporting one block and three cantilever bracket sets at the corners, along with three intermediate bracket sets that uphold the first layer of eaves. From the second layer upward, the eaves are built with corbelled brickwork, covered with tiles, most of which have now fallen off. The upper two levels of the pagoda are heavily collapsed, and the spire is no longer present.

Protected Area: Within 50 meters outside the pagoda base.

Construction Control Zone: A Category II construction control zone extends 70 meters beyond the protected area, and a Category III construction control zone extends 30 meters beyond the Category II zone.

Wujiazi Village: Wujiazi Village…… More detailed information about Wujiazi Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Liaoning Province

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units