An introduction to ancient Chinese architecture requires about 100 words.
1. Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the Jianfu Temple in Anrenfang, Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty (now the southern suburb of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province). It is also called the "Jianfu Temple Pagoda". During the Jinglong period of the Tang Dynasty, it and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda were important symbols of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty that have been preserved to this day.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a typical early Chinese square brick pagoda with dense eaves. It originally had 15 floors and now has 13 floors. It is 43.4 meters high and has a beautiful shape. It is a heritage of Buddhist architectural art in the Tang Dynasty and a Buddhist legend. It is a landmark building that has entered the Central Plains region and integrated into the Han culture.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the ancient bell in the bell tower of Jianfu Temple are collectively known as the "Wild Goose Pagoda Morning Bell", one of the "Eight Scenic Spots in Guanzhong". It is an integral part of the Xi'an Museum and is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.
On March 4, 1961, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was announced by the State Council as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
2. Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the Da Ci'en Temple in Jinchangfang, Chang'an City, Tang Dynasty (now south of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province). It is also known as the "Ci'en Temple Pagoda". In the third year of Yonghui of the Tang Dynasty (652), Xuanzang presided over the construction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to preserve the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back to Chang'an from Tianzhu via the Silk Road.
It initially had five floors, and was later added to nine floors. After that, the number of floors and height changed several times, and finally it was fixed to the seven-story tower you see today, with a total height of 64.517 meters and a side length of the bottom floor. 25.5 meters.
As the earliest and largest extant square pavilion-style brick pagoda in the Tang Dynasty, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a typical physical evidence that the architectural form of ancient Indian Buddhist temples, such as pagodas, was introduced to the Central Plains with Buddhism and integrated into Chinese culture. It is a landmark building that embodies the wisdom of the working people of ancient China.
3. Dacheng Hall
Dacheng Hall is located in Qufu City, Shandong Province. It is the main hall of Qufu Confucius Temple and the core of the Confucius Temple. It was called Wenxuan Palace in the Tang Dynasty and had five rooms. . During the overhaul in the fifth year of Tianxi reign of the Song Dynasty (AD 102), it was moved to its current location and expanded to seven rooms.
In the third year of Song Chongning (AD 1104), Zhao Ji, Huizong of the Song Dynasty, took the meaning of "Mencius": "Confucius called the collection of Dacheng" and issued an edict to change the name to "Dacheng Hall".
It was rebuilt in the second year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (AD 1724), with double eaves with nine ridges, yellow tile roof, carved beams and painted buildings, eight-bou caisson decorated with golden dragons and colorful seals, and a vertical plaque in the middle of the double eaves with the inscription "Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty" The emperor's royal letter reads "Dacheng Hall" with three large gilded characters.
The temple is 24.8 meters high, 45.69 meters long and 24.85 meters wide. It is located on a 2.1-meter-high temple base and is the tallest building in the whole temple.
4. Sakyamuni Pagoda
The full name of Sakyamuni Pagoda is Fogong Temple Sakyamuni Pagoda. It is located in Fogong Temple northwest of Ying County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province. It is commonly known as Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. It was built in the second year of Qingning in the Liao Dynasty (1056 AD in the third year of Zhihe in the Song Dynasty), and was completed in the sixth year of Mingchang in the Jin Dynasty (1195 AD in the first year of Qingyuan in the Southern Song Dynasty).
It is the tallest and oldest existing wooden tower building in China, a national key cultural relic protection unit, and a national AAAA-level scenic spot. Together with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it is also known as the "Three Wonderful Towers in the World". In 2016, the Sakyamuni Pagoda was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's tallest wooden pagoda.
The Sakya Pagoda is 67.31 meters high, with a base diameter of 30.27 meters and a flat octagonal shape. The entire tower consumes 3,000 cubic meters of red pine wood and more than 2,600 tons. It is a pure wood structure with no nails or rivets. There are two tooth relics of Sakyamuni Buddha enshrined in the pagoda.
5. Yueyang Tower
Yueyang Tower is located on the west gate wall of the ancient city of Yueyang City, Hunan Province. It overlooks the Dongting below and Junshan in front. Since ancient times, it has the reputation of "the water is in the world in Dongting, and the tower is in the sky in Yueyang". , together with the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, Hubei and Tengwang Pavilion in Nanchang, Jiangxi, are known as the "Three Famous Towers in Jiangnan". In January 1988, it was designated as a national key cultural relic protection unit by the State Council.
The main building of Yueyang Tower is 19.42 meters high, 14.54 meters deep and 17.42 meters wide. It has three floors, four columns, cornices, helmet top and pure wood structure. The four golden nanmu pillars in the building run straight through the roof, and are surrounded by corridors, beams, rafters and purlins that are interlocked with each other to form a whole.
As the only ancient building among the three famous buildings that has maintained its original appearance, Yueyang Tower's unique helmet-top structure reflects the wisdom of the ancient working people and the exquisite design and skills of skilled craftsmen. Fan Zhongyan's popular "Yueyang Tower" in the Northern Song Dynasty made Yueyang Tower famous in the world.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Yueyang Tower
Baidu Encyclopedia - Sakyamuni Tower
Baidu Encyclopedia - Dacheng Hall
Baidu Encyclopedia - Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Baidu Encyclopedia - Small Wild Goose Pagoda