Tiejing building

Changde Tiezhuang

synonym

Tiejing building generally refers to Changde Tiezhuang

Changde iron building, formerly known as "King Kong tower", commonly known as "iron tree", is located in Binhu Park, Changde City, Hunan Province.

According to the research of Changde cultural relic annals, the iron building of Changde was built in the Jianlong period of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-963).

Changde Tiezhuang is a religious memorial building in Song Dynasty. It is the only existing wooden structure iron Scripture building in Northern Song Dynasty in China. The body of the building is a wood like structure, hollow and cylindrical, cast in sections with white iron and connected by tenons and tenons. The bottom of the building is supported by a stone base with six lotus patterns, and the body of the building is cast with Buddha, Rex, dragon and tiger, lotus patterns and Buddhist scriptures. It provides important material for the study of Chinese Buddhist history, iron smelting technology and ancient religious architecture history.

On February 23, 1982, Changde Tiezhuang was announced as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the people's Republic of China.

Historical evolution

Changde iron building, formerly known as "King Kong tower", commonly known as "iron tree", is located in Binhu Park, Changde City, Hunan Province.

According to the research of Changde cultural relic annals, the iron building of Changde was built in the Jianlong period of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-963).

In the 1950s, it was proposed that Changde iron building should be smashed and smelted, and only under the protection of the workers of Changde machinery factory could it survive.

In 1979, Changde Tiezhuang (originally located in the former site of Qianming temple in Deshan, Changde City, Hunan Province) was moved to the Lakeside Park in the urban area of Changde City. Although it was repaired by welding, it could not reach the technological level of stainless steel in the Northern Song Dynasty.

In 2008, Changde Municipal Bureau of cultural relics invited the collection technology department of Hunan Museum to Changde to inspect the preservation condition and preservation environment of Changde iron building. The professional and technical personnel believed that due to the humid and rainy weather, long-term sun and rain, environmental pollution and the lively chemical properties of white iron, the surface of Changde iron building was seriously rusted and the handwriting was mottled, which needed to be protected Nursing treatment.

In February 2009, the Technology Department of Hunan Provincial Museum compiled the plan of dismantling, reassembling, protection and restoration of Changde railway building, and the relocation plan of Changde railway building was initially formed.

The relocation plan of Tiechuang in Changde was not carried out as planned and is still located in the Lakeside Park.

Architectural features

Changde iron building is a religious memorial building in Song Dynasty. It is the only existing wooden structure iron building in Northern Song Dynasty.

The body of the building is a wood like structure, hollow and cylindrical, cast in sections with white iron and connected by tenons and tenons. The bottom of the building is supported by a stone base with six lotus patterns, and the body of the building is cast with Buddha, Rex, dragon and tiger, lotus patterns and Buddhist scriptures.

Cultural relics

overview

Changde Tiechuang is a wooden imitation structure, hollow, big at the bottom and small at the top. It is shaped like a cylindrical pagoda. It is cast in sections with white iron and connected by tenons and tenons. It is 4.33 meters high, 0.9 meters in diameter at the bottom and weighs 1520.8 kg. At the bottom of the building, there is a stone base with six lotus patterns. On the body of the building, there are some patterns, such as Buddha, Rex, dragon and tiger, lotus patterns, Buddhist scriptures, the name, official position and donation amount of the donor.

Pedestal

Changde iron building is placed on an octagonal base with a height of 1.42 meters and a cloud lotus pattern carved on the edge.

Building body

Changde iron building is composed of 17 sections from the base to the top.

At the bottom of the first section, there are eight statues of Hercules around the lower part, with hands bent upward to hold up, four dragons and four tigers in the middle, and ten statues of Buddha around the upper part.

In the second layer, there are lotus like decorative patterns on the upper part; ten statues of Sakyamuni are cast around the middle part, with their shawls covering their chests and their palms closed to form seats; in the lower part, there are four dragons and four lions.

The third and fifth layers are surrounded by the full text of Prajna paramita Sutra (162 characters) and the half body figure of strongman, with hands raised up and shoulder level, to set off the posture of Vajra; around the middle are eight alternate dragons and lions, with vivid shapes; around the upper are ten images of Sakyamuni, and the above layers are decorated with lotus pattern, tassel pattern, bead pattern, cloud pattern and ripple pattern And so on. There are cornices on the upper part of the fifth floor, with eight cantilevered corners.

The sixth layer has a repeated lotus pattern, with a round arch in the middle, and the double doors are closed tightly.

On the seventh floor, there are five five Dharma wheels symbolizing the East, West, North and south. There are inscriptions and names of donors, founders and local officials in the central area.

There are octagonal eaves in the upper part of the eighth and eleventh floors. There are round holes in the eaves and bronze bells were hung.

History and culture

Buddhist stone pillar

Jingchuang: pronounced J ī ng Chu á ng, is a kind of Buddhist art building with publicity and commemoration. Because the content is Buddhist Scripture, it is called Jingchuang. In China, most of the sutras are made of stone, but few of them are made of iron. According to the records, only two iron scriptures are reserved in China.

Legends and anecdotes

Changde iron building was originally built in Qianming temple at the foot of gufengling mountain, 10 kilometers away from Changde City. Qianming temple was originally named "Deshan jingshe", which is said to be built by Luban. In the Tang Dynasty, it was also known as the "ancient virtue Temple". There are diamond pagoda, Huiguang pagoda, kuanlou pagoda, Pilu Pavilion, octagonal pavilion, broken bridge, Tiejing building, Bailong well, Wulong well, Boyu spring, etc. Deshan xuanjian (782-865), a famous monk in Tang Dynasty, was the abbot and preacher in his later years.

Cultural relic value

Jingchuang is usually made of stone, but Changde Tiechuang is made of pig iron. Its structure is exquisite, and the figures and animals decorated with relief are lifelike. It marks the high development of cast iron technology in ancient China, and provides important material for the study of Chinese Buddhist history, iron smelting technology and ancient religious architecture history.

Cultural relics protection

On February 23, 1982, Changde Tiezhuang was announced as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the people's Republic of China.

Tourism information

geographical position

Changde iron building is located in the Lakeside Park of Changde City, Hunan Province.

Ticket Price

Free Admission.

Traffic information

Changde City can take No.2, No.14, No.28, No.33 bus to Binhu Park Station; No.7, No.32 bus to Binhu Park Station, you can reach.

Address: Guangrong Road, Wuling District, Changde City, Hunan Province

Longitude: 111.70279986669

Latitude: 29.036338635217

Chinese PinYin : Tie Jing Zhuang