Chongjue Temple Iron Pagoda

　　 Chongjue Temple was originally established in the first year of the Huangjian era of the Northern Qi Dynasty (560 AD). In the fourth year of the Chongning era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1105 AD), an iron pagoda was erected inside the temple, which led to the temple being commonly known as the "Iron Pagoda Temple." Originally, the iron pagoda was an octagonal, seven-story pavilion-style tower. It was renovated in the ninth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1581 AD) and expanded to nine stories, reaching a total height of 23.8 meters. The lower part of the pagoda features an octagonal brick base, with a door on the southern side. The interior ceiling is adorned with a dougong-patterned caisson ceiling. Inside, there are stone carvings of a thousand-handed Buddha from the Song Dynasty and an inscribed stele from the seventh year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1881 AD). The main body of the iron pagoda is octagonal, with its interior filled with brickwork. Each level is equipped with eaves, balconies, and balustrades, and both the eaves and balconies feature dougong brackets. The finial is a gilded, bottle-shaped ornament. Each level of the pagoda has doors on four sides, with niches and Buddha statues on the other four. The first and second levels also bear inscriptions reading "Great Song, Chongning Year of the Yin-Yang (1105 AD)." Originally, wind chimes hung around the eaves, though few remain today. All components of the iron pagoda were cast using wood-like molds, reflecting not only the architectural style of Song Dynasty wooden structures but also showcasing the advanced casting techniques of the period. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)