Zhengding Four Pagodas

Zhengding Four Pagodas There are currently four ancient pagodas in Zhengding City: Lingxiao Pagoda, Sumi Pagoda, Hua Pagoda, and Chengling Pagoda, all of which were built during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Lingxiao Pagoda Lingxiao Pagoda is located on Dazhong Street within Zhengding County, situated in the Tianning Temple, also known as the Wooden Pagoda. It was initially built in the early years of the Tang Xiantong period (AD 860). It was repaired during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The pagoda has a mixed structure of brick and wood, with nine levels and a height of 60 meters, making it the tallest ancient building in Zhengding City. The height of each level decreases from top to bottom. There are stairs inside the pagoda to climb to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. Above these floors, there is a central pillar connected to the pagoda body with radial corner beams. From the outside, the bottom three levels of the pagoda body have brick bucket arches. Above the 4th level, the bucket arches and flying eaves are all wooden structures, with wind bells hanging at each corner and doors on all four sides. The top originally had an iron cast jujube kernel-shaped pagoda spire. As the pagoda rises, the height of each level decreases, and the segmentation of each level increases, giving the appearance a sense of stability and elegance. This type of high-level ancient pagoda structure, with a brick base, wooden upper levels, and a central pillar penetrating five levels, is extremely rare in the country. However, the pagoda spire and top were shaken off during the 1966 Xingtai earthquake, and the ancient pagoda body was also damaged. The current Wooden Pagoda is a reconstruction, with its height reduced to 40 meters, and its structure is not entirely the same as the original pagoda, but it is still a magnificent tall pagoda. Sumi Pagoda The Sumi Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple, also known as the Brick Pagoda or Square Pagoda, is located on Changsheng Street within Zhengding City. It was built in the second year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 540). The pagoda has 9 levels and is 53 meters high. The pagoda body has a square plan and is hollow; the walls are built with blue bricks, and the interior is reinforced with wood, making it more solid. Each corner of the bottom level has pseudo-tympanum stone carvings in the style of the Tang Dynasty. Each level has a door on the front, with the bottom level having a stone ring door. The first level has a lintel carved with two dragons playing with a pearl, and each corner has wind chimes hanging. The pagoda body is basically intact, with a simple shape and distinct Tang pagoda characteristics. To the east of the pagoda is an ancient bell tower with a huge copper bell inside. When the bell is struck, it can be heard for dozens of miles around. This pagoda is one of the simplest and most straightforward high-level ancient pagodas in China in terms of structure and exterior design. Hua Pagoda The Hua Pagoda of Guanghui Temple, also known as the Flower Pagoda or Multitreasure Pagoda, is located on Minsheng Street within Zhengding County. It was built during the Tang Zhenyuan period (AD 785—805) and has a history of over 1100 years. The pagoda is 40.5 meters high, with a unique shape and structure. The Hua Pagoda has a brick and mortar structure, with the first level of the pagoda body having an octagonal plan. On the four main sides, there are additional flat hexagonal pavilion-like single-layer annexes, commonly known as small pagodas, hence the name Multitreasure Pagoda. There are round arched doors on each main side and outside the annexes. The configuration of the bucket arches is peculiar. The second level of the pagoda body is octagonal, with three bays on each side, a flat base below, and bucket arches and eaves tiles above. The central bay on each side is a door, with false lattice windows and long rectangular pointed brick niches on the sides. The third level has a very large base, but the pagoda body suddenly becomes smaller. There are square doors and false windows on all four sides. Above the third level, the octagonal base is supported by strongmen, and the pagoda body is conical, with colorful sculptures of tigers, leopards, lions, dragons, and Buddha figures in relief around it. Above is an octagonal eave top, with a pagoda spire on top, which is now damaged. The Hua Pagoda has a unique shape, with a structure that varies from level to level, reflecting the architectural techniques of the Tang Dynasty in China. Chengling Pagoda The Chengling Pagoda is located in the southeast corner of Zhengding City, within the Linji Temple, also known as the Green Pagoda. It was built in the eighth year of Tang Xiantong (867). This pagoda has a story: during the Tang Dynasty, the monk Yixuan founded the Linji school of Buddhism in Zhengding, which became one of the important sects of Buddhism in China and was later introduced to Japan during the Song Dynasty. Yixuan passed away in the seventh year of Tang Xiantong (866), and the following year, Buddhists chose a location in the southeast of Zhengding City to build a pagoda for his burial. Thus, the Linji Temple was moved here. The temple was destroyed early on, but the Green Pagoda was rebuilt during the Jin Dading period. It is still considered the birthplace of the Linji school, with many followers. The Green Pagoda is 33 meters high, with nine levels, and the pagoda body is made of brick, in an octagonal shape. In recent years, friends from the Japanese Buddhist community often visit this pagoda for pilgrimage.