Yunxiao Pavilion

　　Jiajing era), and features an outwardly leaning but structurally inwardly balanced architectural design. — No matter from which angle visitors observe the building, it appears to tilt in the opposite direction, a mystery that has remained unsolved for over 400 years.

　　　　Located by a river at the entrance of Tianbei Village in Zhongdu Town, Fujian, the pavilion is surrounded by towering ancient trees, clear waters, arched stone bridges, and historic houses, offering a serene environment. It is one of the best-preserved and oldest ancient buildings in Shanghang County. It was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Shanghang County in the early 1980s. [2-3]

　　Architectural Features

　　The Yunxiao Pavilion was renovated in 1582 (the 10th year of the Ming Wanli era) and has a history of over 400 years. It is a rammed earth structure in the form of a tiered pagoda, consisting of seven levels and standing over 20 meters tall. The ground floor is divided into front and rear sections: the front hall is the Goddess Hall, with a couplet on its door reading: “The returning crane brings the fragrance of pine blossoms into the meditation room; the drifting clouds reveal the bright moon that illuminates the Zen heart.” The rear hall is the Immortal Master Shrine, dedicated to the Immortal Master Bodhisattva, with a couplet that reads: “In the Buddha’s land, dust is swept away by the wind; in the Zen temple, the moon remains shut behind an unlocked gate.” The second floor is the Guanyin Hall, housing the statue of Guanyin, with a couplet stating: “The Purple Gold Mountain and Qingyuan Mountain are not as swift in disaster relief as this sacred site; the Chanlin Temple and Yihetemple may all worship the same bodhisattva, but blessings come through sincerity.” The third floor is the Xuan Tian Emperor Hall, the fourth is the North Emperor Ancestral Master Hall, the fifth is the Heavenly Empress Mother Hall, the sixth is the Kuixing Star Hall, and the seventh is the Bell and Drum Tower.

　　　　The first and second floors of the Yunxiao Pavilion are made of raw earth with walls two feet thick. Starting from the third floor, the structure uses cylindrical columns, wooden paneling, and ceiling panels adorned with colorful patterns. The eaves feature eight-cornered upturned corners, and the roof is shaped like a gourd. Wooden stairs lead directly to each level.

　　Historical Legend

　　　　Legend has it that when this pavilion was built, there was a master and apprentice duo with exceptional craftsmanship. The villagers chose two locations for them to compete: the apprentice constructed the pavilion in Tianbei Village, while the master built his in the neighboring Xiancun Village. Both projects started and finished at the same time. The master’s pavilion stood tall and straight, while the apprentice’s had a slight tilt. It is said that the apprentice, aiming to showcase superior skill, intentionally left out one corner support. As a result, the Yunxiao Pavilion appears to tilt in different directions depending on the viewer’s vantage point — leaning east when viewed from the west, west when viewed from the east, south when viewed from the north, and north when viewed from the south — becoming a remarkable spectacle. Additionally, a drum on the second floor, made from horsehide in the 1980s, was recently discovered to have grown dense long hair. This phenomenon was featured on CCTV’s science program “Approaching Science,” becoming yet another wonder of the Yunxiao Pavilion.

　　Other Related Information

　　　　In March 2006, after interviews and recommendations by Liu Zengrong (born in 1963 in Tianbei Village, a reporter for the Capital University of Economics and Business), CCTV-10’s “Approaching Science” program sent journalists such as Chen Mo to interview and film at Xiamen University’s School of Life Sciences, as well as in Zhongdu Town and Yongding County. Soon after, a 60-minute scientific documentary titled “The Mysterious Drum” (Parts 1 and 2) and a 10-minute special titled “Science Panorama: Can Hair Grow on a Drum?” (see “Further Reading”) were aired on CCTV-10 and CCTV-1, generating significant public interest. Later, Fujian Television and a South Korean TV station also conducted interviews and reports. In 2009, the Yunxiao Pavilion in Shanghang County was included in the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units announced by the Fujian Provincial Government, officially becoming a protected site in Fujian Province. [4]