Two pagodas of Guangjiao Temple

Guangjiao temple tower is located at the foot of Jingting mountain, commonly known as twin towers. Built in the third year of Shaoxing in the Northern Song Dynasty (1096), it is a pair of ancient square pagodas standing side by side, which is also known as the Song Dynasty twin pagodas. The twin towers are the Song Dynasty brick towers of Tang Dynasty, which reflect the characteristics and style of Song Dynasty architecture. The tower is more than 20 meters high, with seven floors each. The plane is square, and the center column is set in the middle. The appearance is imitation wood structure. Most of the whole tower is built with Buddha statues. Each floor is divided into three rooms with cylindrical bricks. The middle is a round arch. The wall is decorated with precious flowers. The tower has a small area. The original floor can be used to help the ladder. The straight-line distance between the two towers is 26.90 meters. The East Tower is slightly larger, 2.65 meters on each side, and the West Tower is 2.35 meters on each side. Due to the long construction period, the top of the twin towers has been destroyed and seven floors remain. In order to preserve the ancient architecture and Chinese Buddhist culture, the twin towers of Guangjiao temple are listed as the national key cultural relics protection units and recorded in the dictionary of Chinese places of interest.

Two pagodas of Guangjiao Temple

Guangjiao temple's twin towers, also known as Jingting twin towers, are located at the south foot of Jingting mountain, 2.5km north of Xuancheng, Anhui Province. The twin towers were built in the 3rd year of Shaosheng (1096 A.D.) in the Northern Song Dynasty. They are 26.9m apart from each other in the East and West. They are of the same shape and are square imitation wooden pavilion style brick towers.

The two pagodas of Guangjiao temple are a pair of unique and rare ancient square pagodas standing side by side. This kind of pagoda not only follows the square plane style of the Tang Dynasty, but also has the architectural characteristics of the Song Dynasty, which is the only example of ancient pagodas in the Song Dynasty. Although most of the twin towers are broken, they still retain the original appearance of the Northern Song Dynasty.

In January 1988, the two pagodas of Guangjiao temple were listed as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council. It has been recorded in the dictionary of Chinese places of interest.

Historical evolution

In the second year of Tang Dazhong (848), Pei Xiu knew Xuanzhou, welcomed duanji Zen master to Xuanzhou, and settled in Kaiyuan Temple in Xicheng. In the second year, he founded Guangjiao temple.

It was built in the third year of Shaosheng (1096 A.D.) in the Northern Song Dynasty. The date of the construction of the two towers is not recorded in the literature and local chronicles. However, according to the research on the size of the mortar joints and brickwork around the carved stones of the two towers, the experts believe that the carved stones are consistent with the structure and details of other parts of the inner wall of the tower, and should be built when the tower was built. According to the modeling style, structure and artistic characteristics of the two towers, it can be inferred that the two towers of Guangjiao temple were built in the third year of Shaosheng of the Northern Song Dynasty.

From the end of the Yuan Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, Guangjiao temple was established and abolished several times.

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, Guangjiao temple was almost completely destroyed, with only two pagodas and stone Buddha Hall left.

During the Anti Japanese War, Guangjiao temple was destroyed by the Japanese War of aggression against China. Only the two towers of Guangjiao temple and the stone Buddha Hall were left.

On April 1, 1989, the two pagodas of Guangjiao temple were repaired for the first time. At that time, because the original data of the double tower brake was not found, only the tower body which endangered the safety of the tower was reinforced and partially restored.

On April 9, 1990, the two pagodas of Guangjiao temple were repaired and opened to the public after 12 months.

On June 1, 1994, in accordance with the requirements of the State Administration of cultural relics, the Municipal Bureau of culture presided over the construction of the twin tower courtyard.

In August 2012, the research group headed by Tong Mingkang, deputy director of the State Administration of cultural relics, came to Xuancheng City to investigate the protection of the twin towers of Guangjiao temple.

On April 15, 2014, the national development and Reform Commission and the State Administration of cultural relics allocated nearly 10 million special funds for the second large-scale renovation of the twin towers.

Architectural features

structure

The two pagodas of Guangjiao temple are 26.9 meters apart from each other. The height is 17 meters. The East and West axes of the two towers are slightly skewed, and the planes are square. The East Tower is slightly larger, and they are imitation wooden pavilion style brick towers. The top of the two towers is damaged, and the residual height is more than 17 meters. The plane is square. The bottom of the East Tower is 2.63 meters long from north to South and 2.62 meters long from east to west. The bottom of the West Tower is 2.35 meters long from north to South and 2.34 meters long from east to west. The two towers are of the same shape, both of which are 7-level imitation wooden pavilion style, with hollow center and no tower core column. The base is white stone relief, and the bottom is open on three sides. The East Tower lacks the east gate, while the west tower has no west gate

features

The two pagodas of Guangjiao temple are side by side compared with the ancient cubic pagoda. Each side of the pagoda body is divided into three columns, with a circular arch in the middle. Lattice windows are set on both sides. Two layers are laid in the middle of the two sides of the patching room. There are two central columns on both sides, retaining the practice of the Tang Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, it was built in the style of square plane. The appearance of the two towers was straight and graceful. The outer wheel gallery had a little parabola. It also had the air and style that the song tower should have. The tower is a half wood eaves made of brick, each floor has a waist eaves flat seat, the appearance is to imitate the form of wood structure. The column, Fang and Dou Gong all reflect the characteristics of architecture in Song Dynasty.

Cultural relics

Cultural relic value

The twin towers of Guangjiao temple are a group of unique ancient buildings. Its appearance still imitates the form of square pavilions in the Tang Dynasty. Its internal structure and details are made of brick instead of wood, Fang, Dou Gong, etc., supplemented by semi wood structure. It not only follows the style of the Tang Dynasty, but also has strong architectural characteristics of the Song Dynasty. In the existing song Pagoda in China, only one example is the square plane of Tang style, which has extremely precious art, scientific research, history, value and high ornamental value. At the same time, the two towers of Guangjiao temple is the earliest example of the two towers in China, and it is also an important object to study the ancient Chinese architecture and historical development. Its architectural structure also provides important material materials for the evolution of other kinds of buildings in China.

Cultural relics protection

Protection level

In 1956, it was listed as the first batch of provincial key cultural relics protection units by Anhui Provincial People's government.

In January 1988, it was announced as a national key cultural relics protection unit by the State Council.

protective measures

In 1989, the State Administration of cultural relics allocated more than 300000 yuan for the construction by Huizhou Institute of ancient architecture. The whole repair project adheres to the principle of "strengthening the existing situation" and "repairing the old as before", including strengthening the tower body, repairing the weathered damaged parts, adding the top cover to prevent rain and snow from seeping down, installing the drainage pipe and lightning rod, and replacing the damaged wooden floor and escalator.

In April 2014, the national development and Reform Commission and the State Administration of cultural relics allocated nearly 10 million special funds to start the large-scale repair of the twin towers again. In addition to the environmental improvement of the double tower protection area, the focus is to repair the top of the tower and the leakage of the tower wall.

Tower keeper

The watchmen inspect and guard the ancient pagoda every day, record the condition of the ancient pagoda every day, check the hidden dangers and do the cleaning work.

Cai Guangrong, the first generation tower keeper, participated in the first renovation work. Xu Qun, the second generation tower keeper, was handed over in June 2005.

Xu Qun, the second generation tower keeper, is the protection administrator of the twin towers. In June 2005, he officially took over the guard post of the twin towers from Cai Guangrong.

Tourism information

Ticket price: Free

Traffic information: take the No.4 bus. It's about 6 kilometers away from the city center. You can also take a taxi.

Address: at the foot of Jingting mountain, Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province

Longitude: 118.73151

Latitude: 30.96568

Ticket information: Free

Chinese PinYin : Guang Jiao Si Shuang Ta