Miaoying Temple Pagoda

Miaoying Temple Pagoda

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple, also known as "the pagoda of wisdom of sakasheri", is also known as "the pagoda of wisdom of longevity" and "the pagoda of wisdom of sakasheri". Because of its white body, it is commonly known as "the White Pagoda". In the Yuan Dynasty, it was known as "the Jade Pagoda of Jincheng". Located in Miaoying temple, north of fuchengmennei street, Xicheng District, Beijing. Founded in 1271, the site was surveyed by Kublai Khan, the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. Yilianzhen, the national teacher of the Yuan Dynasty, and aniko, the craftsman of Nepal (now Nepal), were responsible for the installation and construction of the site respectively, and the Sakyamuni Buddhist relics were hidden in the pagoda. It was built in 1279.

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple is an important symbol of the Yuan Dynasty. It is the earliest and largest lama Pagoda in China. It is the earliest Tibetan Buddhist pagoda in Beijing. It is also considered to be the oldest landmark building in Beijing. It is an important historical site for later generations to study Buddhism and its architectural art of the Yuan Dynasty. It is a witness of the unity of the Han, Mongolian and Tibetan Nationalities and the friendly exchanges between China and Nepal. It has high historical, cultural and artistic value.

On March 4, 1961, the White Pagoda of Miaoying temple was announced as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the people's Republic of China.

Historical evolution

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple was built in 1271. Kublai Khan, the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, personally surveyed the site of the pagoda. Yilianzhen, the national teacher of the Yuan Dynasty, and aniko, the craftsman of Nepal (now Nepal), were responsible for the installation and construction of the pagoda, and welcomed the Sakyamuni Buddhist relics to be stored in the pagoda. It was built in 1279.

On June 30, 1368, the Wan'an Temple of the great saint Shou was attacked by thunder and fire in a thunderstorm. Only the white tower and the east west two shadow halls were spared.

In 1433, the temple was restored and renamed Miaoying temple.

After several repairs during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, only the white pagoda is a relic of the Yuan Dynasty.

Architectural features

overview

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple is built according to the style of ancient India's sodupo style pagoda, and adopts the shape of Nepal's unique burlap style Lama pagoda.

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple is a brick and stone structure, which consists of three parts: the base, the body and the temple. There is a three-layer platform under the platform, which is covered with a plane round tower body of liantuowei, and the top is the tower neck, thirteen days, bronze cover and top. The white pagoda is well proportioned, 50.9 meters high and shaped like a covered bowl. It is made like a cover and its whole body is snow-white. It's like a giant gourd standing among the dense houses in Beijing.

Tower base

The tower base is a T-shaped high platform built with big city bricks, 2 meters above the ground, covering an area of 1422 square meters. In the center of the tower foundation, a multi corner square tower base is built, covering an area of 810 square meters and 9 meters high. It has three layers. The lower layer is the retaining wall, and the second and third layers are xumizuo. Each layer has two corners symmetrically, so many corner stones and facades are piled up. In the waist part of xumizuo, each facade is set off by the corner pillars on both sides and the upper and lower Xiao Fang.

A base is built on the tower foundation to connect the tower body and the base. There are five rings on the rosette to support the tower.

Tower body

The body of the pagoda, commonly known as "Baoping", is shaped like a compound bowl with seven iron hoops on it. The top of the pagoda is a canopy with a diameter of 9.7 meters. The canopy is made of thick wood with 40 radiating ridges made of copper tiles. 36 pairs of copper fringes and wind bells are hung around the canopy. When the breeze blows, the bells are pleasant. In the center of the canopy, there is a gold-plated top about 5 meters high, which is fixed on the copper plate with 8 strong iron chains.

Thatsa

The seat of the White Pagoda of Miaoying temple is xumizuo type. On the seat stands the wheel of thirteen phases, which is called "thirteen days".

Cultural relics

In 1978, when the cultural relics department repaired the White Pagoda Temple, it found some Buddhist relics left in the gilded small area on the top of the pagoda, such as the Tripitaka, the wooden statue of Avalokitesvara, the patchwork cassock, the five Buddha crown, the paramita Sutra written by Emperor Qianlong, the Zunsheng mantra in Tibetan, the bronze Buddha III, and the red gold relic longevity Buddha. Among them, the red gold relic longevity Buddha and the five Buddha crown are all national first-class cultural relics.

History and culture

Arts and culture

"Chang'an Hakka dialect" has such a description of the wind chime in the White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple: "Zhenduo rings in the wind, and the golden plate shines in the sun." It is quite poetic and picturesque.

According to the records of Yanjing's visit to ancient times, "the white pagoda was in disrepair in the Ming Dynasty, with a crack in the middle. All the major wood factories in Yanjing were invited to repair by the inner government, but they could not respond to it. " Only a tinker who had been staying in shengyouxuan for a long time in front of Baita Temple volunteered to repair it. Overnight, I saw "there are seven hoops in the pagoda, which are neither iron nor copper. They shine brightly, and some of them are gone."

"Chang'an Hakka" a book recorded: "angle hanging jade pole, step cloth stone column. The eaves are hung with Chinese bamboo, and the body is covered with pearls. Zhenduo rhymes in the wind, and the golden plate shines in the wind. Pavilions and pavilions are in danger, reflecting purple guests from afar. " Its skillful regulation and strange construction technology are rare in ancient times.

Related people

According to historical records, aniko was born in Patan, the ancient city of Nepal, in 1244. He studied Sanskrit and manufacturing technology at an early age, and was appreciated and reused by Kublai Khan, the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. In 1271, aniko began to build the pagoda in the shape of the burlap Lama pagoda, which is unique to Nepal. It took eight years to build the pagoda. The white pagoda is his brilliant work.

Legends and anecdotes

Shadowless tower

It is said that the White Pagoda of Miaoying temple has no shadow either in the sunlight or in the moonlight, which means "shadowless white pagoda without shadow". Others say that "the White Pagoda Temple has no shadow. Its shadow is in Tibet.".

From a scientific point of view, it is impossible to be completely shadowless with light. Tower shadowless may be because the tower is tall and cone-shaped, and it is surrounded by narrow hutongs. The shadow of the tower is often hidden in the projection of the walls on both sides of the Hutong. Therefore, it is impossible to see the complete shadow of the white tower from any angle, whether in the sunlight or in the moonlight.

As for the fact that the shadow is in Tibet, it should be a folk rumor, probably because it is a Tibetan pagoda.

Baita Temple

Miaoying temple, also known as Baita temple, is located in the north of mennei street, Fucheng, Beijing. It was first built in the second year of shouchang (1096) of Liao Dynasty and was formerly known as Yong'an temple. In 1271, it was rebuilt and renamed as the great saint shouwan'an temple, becoming a Tibetan Buddhist temple. In the first year of Tianshun in Ming Dynasty (1457), it was rebuilt again and renamed Miaoying temple. Because there was a white Sakyamuni pagoda built in the temple in Liao Dynasty, it was also called White Pagoda Temple. In the Yuan Dynasty, the white pagoda was rebuilt, and the name of the White Pagoda Temple has also been used, becoming a common name in the past dynasties.

Folk customs

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the activities of the pagoda had a great influence in Beijing. According to the Ming Dynasty book "the scenery of the imperial capital" records: "New Year's day, scholars around the tower, shoes phase creeping, to the light Market Sheng naixie.". It shows that from the first day of the first month of the new year, people began to turn the pagoda in Baita temple, and the Lantern Festival didn't end until the 15th day of the first month. This custom continued to the Qing Dynasty. When introducing the New Year customs, Guangxu shuntianfu Zhi mentioned that "from the first day to the third day, men and women walk around the pagoda in Baita temple.".

In 1785, Emperor Qianlong held a banquet for thousands of old people in Qianqing palace and Baita temple. It was a large banquet held by the emperor of Qing Dynasty to reward the country's meritorious elders. Emperor Qianlong wrote a poem "eight rhymes of Miaoying Temple" and erected a monument to commemorate it. It is said that when the banquet was held, a picture of hada suddenly appeared at the top of the tower, which surprised people at that time.

In the middle and late Qing Dynasty, Miaoying Temple gradually evolved into one of the famous temple fairs in Beijing. Every Spring Festival, it was so lively that the custom of "walking on the white tower on August 8" was formed among the people in Beijing.

Publishing books

Published the book collection of Baita Temple materials.

Cultural relic value

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple is an important cultural relic left by Dadu of Yuan Dynasty. The proportion of the white pagoda is well proportioned and majestic. It is the representative work of the Lama pagoda of Tibetan Buddhism and the historical witness of the friendship and cultural exchanges between the Chinese and Nepalese people.

The White Pagoda of Miaoying temple is an important historical site for later generations to study Buddhism and its architectural art in Yuan Dynasty, which has high historical, cultural and artistic value.

Cultural relics protection

On March 4, 1961, the White Pagoda of Miaoying temple was announced as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the people's Republic of China.

In 1978, the cultural relics department repaired and strengthened the white pagoda.

In 1980, the Baitasi Cultural Relics Preservation Center was opened to the public.

In May 2013, the renovation project of the White Pagoda of Miaoying temple was officially started due to the moisture and peeling. Completed in December 2015.

In June 2019, the White Pagoda of Miaoying temple was closed for two years due to the renovation of cultural relics and the protection of color paintings.

Tourism information

geographical position

Miaoying temple white tower is located at 171 funei street, Xicheng District, Beijing.

Opening Hours

9: 00-16:30 (closed on Monday).

Ticket Price

20 yuan.

Traffic information

Chinese PinYin : Miao Ying Si Bai Ta