Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
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Giant Wild Goose Pagoda or Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Chinese: 大雁塔; pinyin: Dàyàn Tǎ), is a pagoda located in southern Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China. The structure was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and originally had five stories. One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveller Xuanzang.
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[edit] Surroundings and history
The pagoda was built during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (r. 649-683). Early in the 8th century, the ruling Empress Wu Zetian had five more stories added in the year 704 AD. However, later wars damaged the pagoda reducing it to its current height of seven stories. The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64 m (210 ft) tall and from the top it offers views over the current city of Xi'an. During the Tang Dynasty the pagoda was located within the grounds of a monastery, within a walled ward of the larger southeastern sector sector of the city, then known as Chang'an.[1][2]
The monastic grounds around the pagoda during the Tang Dynasty had ten courtyards and a total of 1,897 bays.[1] In those days graduate students of the Advanced Scholars examination in Chang'an inscribed their names at this monastery.[1]
Close by the pagoda is the Temple of Great Maternal Grace; Da Ci'en. This temple was originally built in AD 589 and then rebuilt AD 647 in memory of his mother Empress Wende by Li Zhi who later became the Tang Emperor Gaozong.
The monk Xuanzang's statue stands in front of the temple area.
[edit] Additional Images
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The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an |
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A spectacular fountain show takes place near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, up to several times a day |
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The path leading up to the pagoda |
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Wall of the temple from the outside |
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The pagoda at night |
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The pagoda in winter |
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A statue of Xuanzong located near the pagoda |
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Xian at night, with the pagoda lit up |
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A gazebo-style pagoda and Buddha statue in the gardens around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda |
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Benn, Charles (2002). China's Golden Age: Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- http://www.nudieman.com/anrg/great_gander_pagoda.html
- http://www.china-travel-golden-route.com/goose_pagoda.htmlbr:Pagodenn veur ar Waz Ouez
de:Große Wildganspagode es:Gran pagoda del ganso salvaje ja:大雁塔 no:Den store villgåspagoden ru:Большая пагода диких гусей tr:Büyük Vahşi Kaz Pagodası zh:大雁塔
