Brick pagoda of Yuanjue Temple

Brick pagoda of Yuanjue Temple

Yuanjue Temple brick tower is located in Shiqiao North Lane of Hunyuan county. It is the second batch of cultural relics protection units in Shanxi Province. It was built in Jin Dynasty. Originally a part of the Yuanjue temple complex, Yuanjue temple was destroyed in the Japanese War of aggression against China.

Brief introduction of brick tower

Key cultural relics protection units in Shanxi Province. Datong City is located in the southeast of Hunyuan County Shiqiao North Lane. Yuanjue temple is commonly known as "small temple". It was built by Seng XuanZhen in 1158, the third year of Jin Zhenglong. It is a group of ancient buildings with the tower as the center, including the main hall, the East and west side hall, the mountain gate, the West courtyard hall, etc. In the 1930s, the Japanese invaders destroyed the wooden buildings in the temple. Now there is only one brick tower. Brick towers were built in Chenghua, Wanli and Xianfeng years of the Ming Dynasty. The tower is octagonal in plane, with 9 layers of dense eaves, all of which are built with bricks and no steps to climb. The base of the tower is xumizuo, which is 4 meters high. The lowest layer has several layers, gradually adduction. On xumizuo are Dou arches, one on each corner. Each corner of the waist carved lotus, waist column carved King Kong, Rex support. On the top of the tower is the first floor tower, and the south door is the chamber of the tower. The original statue has been destroyed. Part of the mural remains in the tower. The top of the tower is a brick arch, which bears the eaves of the tower. From the second to the eighth floors, the towers are short and fast rising. A short column is set up on the octagonal surface, and a wind chime is hung on the corner beam. The ninth layer is higher. Under the Tasha, there is a folded base. On the top, there are Yanglian, Fubo, Xianglun, Baogai and Baozhu. On the top, there is an exquisite iron Fengniao. Bird head to the west, can rotate with the wind, the role of a weathervane, but also lightning.

Introduction to Yuanjue Temple

Yuanjue temple is commonly known as "small temple". According to Hunyuan Prefecture annals published by Shunzhi in Qing Dynasty, "Yuanjue temple was built in the third year of Jin Zhenglong (1158) in the east of the prefecture." It used to be a complete set of ancient buildings with the tower as the center, including the main hall, the East and west side hall, the mountain gate, the West Cross courtyard hall, etc. in the 1930s, the Japanese invaded and demolished all the wooden buildings in the temple. Now only one brick tower is the original structure of the Jin Dynasty. In the fifth year of Chenghua (1469), the fourth year of Wanli (1576) and the ninth year of Xianfeng (1859) of the Qing Dynasty, they were all repaired, or brick inscriptions or stone inscriptions were embedded in the brick tower.

The brick tower is octagonal in plane, with nine stories of dense eaves, all of which are built with bricks and no steps to climb. The base of the tower is xumizuo, which is 4 meters high. The lowest part is folded several layers, gradually adduction. Two layers of brick door. All sides are inlaid with brick reliefs, including Kabuki music, samurai and beast. The upper part of xumizuo is decorated with Dougong, one on each corner, and the eye of the Dougong is carved with animal head and crouching lion. Lotus flowers are carved on the waist at each corner, and the waist column is carved into Vajra and Rex support, with a flat seat on it. The flat seat Dougong is made of five layers of double and single Dougong, all of which are 45 degree inclined. On the first floor of the pagoda, the opening to the south is the chamber of the pagoda. The original statue of Buddha has been destroyed. Some Ming Dynasty Murals and inscriptions of visitors are still left in the pagoda. On the top of the tower, there is a brick Dougong, which bears the first layer of eaves. From the second layer of the tower to the top, the eight layers of the tower are low and rapidly upward. Each octagon has short columns, and the columns are stacked with astringent rafters and eaves tiles. The ninth floor rises suddenly again. Under the Tasha, there is a stacked base. On the top, there are lotus like flowers. On the top, there are compound bowls, phase wheels, treasure covers, and pearls. On the top, there is a beautiful iron Phoenix. It can rotate with the wind and act as a wind vane or lightning arrester. It is a kind of famous wind instrument in ancient China, the migratory bird (xiangfengniao).

Address: Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province

Longitude: 113.67400360107

Latitude: 39.694400787354

Chinese PinYin : Yuan Jiao Si Zhuan Ta