Chaoyang South Pagoda

Chaoyang South Pagoda

The Chaoyang South Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Chaoyang South Pagoda is located at the southern end of Murong Street (formerly Shuangta Street) in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, and is a remnant structure of the Xingzhong Prefecture city from the Liao Dynasty. As there were originally three ancient pagodas standing in a tripartite formation within the city, they were commonly referred to by their directions as the East Pagoda, South Pagoda, and North Pagoda. The South Pagoda is a thirteen-story, closely-eaved, brick Buddhist pagoda, currently standing 42.6 meters tall, and is composed of a rammed earth base, a brick platform base, a Sumeru pedestal, the main body of the pagoda, eaves, and a spire.

The Chaoyang South Pagoda is a square, hollow, thirteen-story, closely-eaved, brick structure. The pagoda is 45 meters tall, and after restoration, it stands 56 meters high. The square base is 20 meters wide on each side and 10 meters high. The Sumeru pedestal has two layers of waistings, featuring niches and inlaid brick carvings of lotus flowers and cloud-dragon patterns, which are exquisitely crafted. The central southern face of the pagoda’s main body has a arched doorway, above which is a carved cover leading to the inner chamber. The other three sides have false doors, with door lintels decorated with scroll cloud motifs and suspended canopies. Each side of the pagoda’s upper section is inlaid with two stone tablets inscribed with the names of the Eight Great Stupa Sites in regular script. From south to west, these are: the Tower of Birth in King Suddhodana’s Palace, the Tower of Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, the Tower in the Deer Park, the Tower of Naming in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, the Tower of the Precious Steps at Kusinagara, the Tower of Prajñā at Vulture Peak, the Tower of Vimalakīrti in the Amrapāli Grove, and the Tower of Parinirvāṇa in the Śāla Grove. The content of the Eight Great Stupas depicts the major events in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha from birth to parinirvana. Above the main body of the pagoda, the eaves rise layer upon layer, gradually narrowing inward, soaring high into the sky in a truly spectacular sight. The first tier of large eaves uses imitation wooden brick carvings of bracket sets to support the roof tiles, with nine interstitial bracket sets and one corner bracket set on each face. On the spandrels are sculpted images of eminent monks. Wind bells hang from the eave corners.

On October 7, 2019, the Chaoyang South Pagoda was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Liaoning Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units