Wooden Pagoda

» Datong, Shan Xi

Wooden Pagoda Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Wooden Pagoda, also called Sakyamuni Pagoda, is located in Fogong (Buddha's Palace) Temple in the northwestern corner of Yingxian, about 70 kilometers south of Datong, Shanxi Province. It is the oldest and highest wooden structure in China and is regarded as the "First Pagoda in the World" and an architectural gem. Built without the use of nails, the entire structure is solid, imposing, and elegant. It has weathered nearly a thousand years of wind and storm, yet has remained intact despite many strong earthquakes. It is indeed a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture.

What to visit

Explore the pagoda

The pagoda was constructed in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty. The pagoda was built on a stone platform four meters high. Around the upper edge and at the corners of the platform there are sculptures of crawling lions whose simple and unsophisticated style belongs to the Liao Dynasty.

The exterior of the pagoda is divided into five levels, but there are actually nine levels in the interior, including four built-in storeys. The steeple of the pagoda is ten meters high; the whole pagoda, 67.31 meters. The diameter of the octagonal first storey is 30.27 meters, the longest among ancient pagodas. The ground storey has two tiers of eaves and steps attached to it. When people enter the southern door of the pagoda, they see a statue of Sakyamuni about ten meters high. The caisson ceiling is refined and beautifully structured. On the inner walls are six pictures of Tathagata in different poses.

Mural paintings

On the walls of the doorway are mural paintings of warrior attendants, heavenly kings, and Buddhist disciples. A painting of three female devotees on the wall above the door is especially exquisite. All the statues and murals have Liao Dynasty characteristics.

A panoramic view

At the southwestern corner of the ground floor a wooden staircase leads up to the second storey. From the second storey up, each storey has windows facing in eight directions, so people can have a clear view. There are also wide balconies with banisters around each storey so people can enjoy a panoramic view of Yingxian County Town, Mt. Hengshan and the Songgan River.

Cultural relics

During recent repairs, a number of important and valuable cultural relics were found in the pagoda, including a picture of medicinal herbs and Buddhist scriptures, all belonging to the Liao Dynasty. Scripture scrolls include both hand-written and block-printed ones - some of them are more than thirty meters long when spread out and date back to as early as 990, 1003 or 1071. They are regarded as rare treasures both at home and abroad, providing important data not only for the collating of Buddhist scriptures, but also for the study of the development of printing technology in China.

Wooden structure

One thing that is worth mentioning is as follows: Except the 4-meter-high stone ground, the wooden pagoda did not use any nail or rivet, all materials are wooden and connected by 50 kinds of base-mat. Every floor was supported by wooden pillars from inside and outside, about 60kinds of inclined beams, wooden stumps and short pillars were used between the wooden pillars, thus, formed a wooden structure of repeated beam.

Firm structure

For nearly a thousand years the wooden pagoda has withstood numerous strong earthquakes. According to historical records, during a severe earthquake lasting seven days during the reign of Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty the pagoda stood firm. Though the Yingxian County area was affected by the big earthquakes in recent years, the wooden pagoda did not suffer any damage. The pagoda's antiseismic strength, proved by these earthquakes, demonstrated the achievement of wooden structures in ancient China.

Attractions around » Datong, Shan Xi

Natural Scene

• Mt. Hengshan

Historical Site

• Yungang Grottoes
• Hanging Temple
• Wooden Pagoda
• Huayan Temple
• Nine Dragon Screen
• Shanhua Temple
• Niangzi Pass
• Yanmen Pass
• Pingxing Pass

Wooden Pagoda Highlights

Tower & Pagoda in Great China

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower
• Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
• Drum Tower
• Bell Tower
• Yellow Crane Tower
• Jiaxiu Tower
• Iron Pagoda
• Liuhe Pagoda
• Tianfeng Pagoda
• Sugong Pagoda
• Wooden Pagoda
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda
• Nong'an Liao Tower
• Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda
• Kaifeng Po Pagoda
• Yingying Pagoda
• Suojiang Tower

Wooden Pagoda FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Are there any tips about the weather in Taiyuan?

  Food

1. What should I note when eating in Shanxi?

  Shopping

1. What speciality products does Shanxi have?

  Travel

1. Some tips on touring around temples on Mt. Wutaishan

• Are there any tips about the weather in Taiyuan?

  Shanxi province is located on the Loess Plateau and is windy and dusty. So you had better not dress in light color. Besides, the air is dry and you should take good care of your skin, and drink more water, or else your lips will be chapped.

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• What should I note when eating in Shanxi?

  The soil in Shanxi province is alkaline, so we strongly recommend you to drink a spoon of local mature vinegar before your three meals a day because the local vinegar could reduce the alkalescence and prevent intestinal disease.

  Proper diet is important. Do not eat too much. Eat more vegetables, fruits and drink more water in order to adapt yourself to the plateau-climate. You had better not smoke or drink.

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• What speciality products does Shanxi have?

  Pingyao beef, Pingyao lacquerwork, Shanxi mature vinegar, Shanxi red date, "Fen jiu" (a kind of famous Chinese hard liquor), mushrooms and tropaeolum of Mount Wutaishan and so on.

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• Some tips on touring around temples on Mt. Wutaishan

  The mountain area is scattered with many famous temples which are the highlights of Mt. Wutaishan tour. There are several aspects tourists should pay attention to, such as:

  • Monk in these temples should be styled "Shifu" or "Fashi" while the abbot styled "Zhanglao," "Fangzhang," or "Shanshi (Chan master)." All the forms of address show the respect for the monks. Monk in lamasery should be addressed as "lama," meaning great master. Do not call them "Heshang" or "Chujiaren" or even other insulting name.
  
  
  • When meeting monks in these temples, you should salute them by putting the palms together and lowering your head slightly or you can put upright one of your hand before chest and lower your head. Never shake their hands, embrace them, touch their heads or other unsuitable action.
  
  
  • When talking with the monks, you should not speak of killing, marriage and eating meat in order to avoid arousing their antipathy. Don't speak loudly, discuss casually, lampoon, touch the Buddhist figures or leave any mark on statues. You may stand and look silently or leave quietly if you come across the Buddhist ceremony. Take care of your kids lest naive children behave impolitely.
  
  
  • No smoking in the temples. Do not leave litter. Taking photographs is not permitted.
  
  
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