Evening walk at the Wild Goose Pagoda. Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas in "ancient" Xi'an
The city of Xian is one of the main strongholds of culture in China; in addition, it served as the capital of the state for more than 13 dynasties. At the moment, the history of the city has about 3 millennia and for some period of time it was the largest city in the world. As you already understood, this is one of the most interesting cities in China in terms of tourism, and in this article we will talk about one of its attractions - the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
This pagoda was built in Xi'an during its capital period, when the Tang Dynasty ruled here. The main material used in the construction is brick. Indian architecture had a strong influence on the plan of the pagoda.
The exact date of construction of the Big Goose Pagoda is 652. The original building included 5 tiers, on each of which Buddhist statues were placed. A few decades later, the Empress issued an order to complete the construction of another 5 tiers. Over the centuries, many wars and battles took place here, from which the upper tiers were partially affected. They were subsequently taken down 
Today, the Pagoda consists of 7 tiers, and its height is 64 meters. From the top of the pagoda, you have a magnificent view of the entire old City Xi'an, also rich in many other attractions, such as the Temple of Mother's Love, many monasteries, the terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and many others 
Detailed information about the city and its attractions is available on the Xianinfo website. Xi'an is an interweaving of an amazing centuries-old history and the most beautiful monuments architecture
Small Wild Goose Pagoda(小雁塔 , Xiǎoyàn Tǎ, Xiaoyanta) - Buddhist Pagoda of Jianfusi Monastery in Xi'an. Complete official name- Jianfusi fota ("Buddhist pagoda of the monastery of Continuous Happiness"). Belongs to the well-preserved monuments of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 906), is an important cultural monument under state protection Historical Museum Xi'an, a AAAA (fourth out of five) National Landmark. Built in 707 AD. e., originally consisted of 15 tiers, up to today 13 survived, height - 43.4 meters. It has a peculiar graceful form and is considered one of the outstanding examples of Tang Buddhist art. The Yanta Chenzhong Bell from this pagoda is one of the Eight Treasures of Shaanxi Province.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located 1 kilometer south of the center of Xi'an, and faces the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to the west. These two pagodas now mark where the capital of the Tang Empire, the city of Chang'an, used to be. The Jianfusi Monastery was previously located within the city of Chang'an, in the estate of Princess Xiancheng, daughter of Emperor Taizong. In 684, during the mourning for the deceased emperor Gao-zong, a Buddhist monastery was built here, in 690 it was named Jianfusi, which became one of the most famous in the city.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda In 671, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the Buddhist monk Yijing set out from Luoyang, boarded a ship in Guangzhou and headed to India for sacred books. He returned to his homeland only after 25 years, visiting 30 countries and bringing home more than 400 Buddhist sacred books. In 706, Yijing, while in the Jianfusi monastery, translated 56 Buddhist sutras and wrote the book “Datan Xiyu Qufa Gaoseng Zhuan” (“The Story of the Assimilation of the Buddha’s Teachings by a Tang Monk in Western countries”), which is very valuable for studying the development of India-China relations. And in 707, a pagoda was built to store the sacred books, the only building of the monastery that has survived to this day.
Name
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was always called Jianfusyta (Jianfusi Monastery Pagoda), the name "Small Wild Goose Pagoda" appeared along with the "Big Wild Goose Pagoda". In 652, a Buddhist pagoda was built in the western courtyard of the capital's Chang'an Tsiensi Monastery with the financial assistance of the imperial court to house the sacred books brought by the monk Xuanzang from India. This pagoda was called Yanta - Wild Goose Pagoda (in China, a wild goose, white-fronted goose - symbolizes a messenger). In 707, the Tang imperial court also subsidized the construction of a somewhat smaller pagoda at another monastery, Jianfusi. Since this pagoda was similar to the Wild Goose Pagoda, but smaller than it, and was also erected to store manuscripts from India, the pagoda of Jianfusi Monastery was called the "Small Wild Goose Pagoda", and the pagoda of Qiensi Monastery was called the "Big Wild Goose Pagoda".
Story
Small Wild Goose Pagoda The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong under the motto of Jinlong (707 - 710 AD). It was located in the capital of the Tang Empire, the city of Chang'an, inside the city wall, on Zhuquemenjie Street, in the Dong'anzhenfang quarter, in the Jianfusi Monastery, and was called Jianfusyta. The pagoda was built to store sacred books brought from India by the Tang monk Yijing. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, the Jianfusi Monastery was repeatedly destroyed during unrest and military mutinies, the monastery fell into disrepair, only the pagoda survived.
According to the records, Emperor Zhu-zong of the Northern Song Dynasty moved Jianfusi Monastery to the courtyard of the pagoda. In 1116, during the reign of Emperor Huizong, someone claiming to be an honest elder Shanggu vowed to repair the pagoda. He repaired the corners of the pagoda, destroyed by erosion, and plastered it with white clay, traces of which remain on the pagoda to this day.
The original view of the pagoda During the Ming and Qing dynasties, both the Jianfusi Monastery and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda were repeatedly renovated. In the Ming era, the revival of the Jianfusi Monastery began, which at that time underwent five large-scale reconstructions, mainly restoring its former appearance. In 1426, two monks from the Weihongjiaosi monastery in Xining visited the Jiangfusi Monastery, and finding the temples deserted, they vowed to restore the monastery. In 1449, after the completion of repairs, the monks asked to give the monastery a name, and to this day a plaque with the name of the monastery hangs over the gate, made in the calligraphic handwriting of the Ming Emperor Ying Zong. In 1487, a powerful earthquake hit the Xi'an region, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda cracked. Subsequently, during the repair, the lower tier was reinforced with bricks, but the cracks were not repaired, they were fixed only during the repair in 1965. The pagoda received new damage during the earthquake of 1521. The pagoda originally had 15 tiers, the top two tiers collapsed during the Great Earthquake of 1555, and since then the pagoda has only 13 tiers. During the Qing Dynasty, Jiangfusi Monastery was also repeatedly renovated, the most extensive reconstruction was carried out under the Kangxi Emperor. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, several more buildings were built to store sacred books.
Monastery and pagoda After the Xinhai Revolution, in 1926-1949, military units of local militarists and the Kuomintang were quartered in the Jianfusi Monastery, and their headquarters were located in the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. After the departure of the Kuomintang troops from Xi'an, the basement of the pagoda was filled with rubbish. In 1949-1957, various state institutions were located in the premises of the monastery, and in 1958 it came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Monuments material culture, Jianfusi Monastery and Small Wild Goose Pagoda began renovation work. In 1961, the State Council of the People's Republic of China published the first list of the most important cultural monuments under state protection, which included the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. In 1964-1965, both the monastery and the pagoda underwent extensive renovations. The renovation was carried out in accordance with the principle of "repairing the old the old way", using ancient technologies and preserving the ancient appearance. During the Cultural Revolution and until 1989, the premises of the monastery were occupied by an elementary school and a military unit.
In 1980, the protected area of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was opened to the public, and in 2007, the Xi'an Museum was opened next to the pagoda, consisting of a park, a hall of material culture, and a historical exhibition. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda has become part of the museum.
Design
The original view of the pagoda The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a typical Buddhist stepped brick pagoda. The pagoda is made of greenish-blue bricks and has a square plan. Initially, the pagoda consisted of 15 tiers, 13 have survived to this day. In 1989, an accurate measurement of the pagoda was carried out: its height was 43.395 meters, the length of the side of the base was 11.38 meters, the ratio of height to width was 100 to 26. The base of the pagoda is made in the form of a cube made of brick, under the base there is a vast dungeon. Above the base is a relatively high first tier, the height of each next tier gradually decreases, as well as the width, which gives the pagoda a peculiar cone-shaped appearance. Well-chosen proportions make the pagoda very beautiful and harmonious.
From the inside, the tiers are hollow, the upper tiers are kept only on the walls of the lower ones, there are no columns. Outside the walls, opposite the inter-tiered ceilings, there are cornices with teeth. On the first tier, from the north and south, there are entrances called Yiguanmen and Qingshimen (one-ticket gate and blue-green stone gate). Above each entrance are finely engraved drawings, of particular interest are images of saints. On each tier, starting from the first from the south and from the north, there is one semicircular opening. Inside the pagoda there is a wooden ladder to climb up.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda From the north, a brick gate tower adjoins the pagoda, built at the end of the Qing Dynasty. on the south side of the pagoda is a memorial arch, also built during the Qing Dynasty. Four hieroglyphs on the south side of the arch read: "all beings will be blessed," and four hieroglyphs on the north side mean "in the only way." Above the doorway of the southern entrance to the pagoda, floral ornaments and gifts to the saints are engraved in stone. The engravings, however, have been damaged over the centuries and are indistinct in places. Initially, the base of the pagoda was surrounded by a pavilion made of wood and brick, which was called the "belt". The "belt" was destroyed during the wars during the Jin and Yuan dynasties.
Bell "Yanta Chenzhong"
Bell and pavilion for it In 1192, during the reign of Emperor Zhang Zong of Jin, a large iron bell, 3.55 meters high and weighing 8 tons, was cast in the Jianfusi Monastery. Subsequently, the bell was lost in the waters of the Weihe River, and in the reign of the Qing Emperor Kangxi was found and placed in a special bell tower next to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. The bell in the monastery marked the dawn every morning, and it could be heard for tens of kilometers. For its large size and loud, clear ringing, the bell was included in the "Eight treasures behind the outposts" (Shaanxi province). Yanta Chenzhong (Morning Bell of the Wild Goose Pagoda) is still one of the main attractions of the monastery.
Tourist Information
Entrance to the territory The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located on the territory of the Xi'an Museum, is located at the address: Shaanxi Province, Xi'an City, Beilin District, Yuixi Lu Street, 72. The museum consists of several parts: the central part architectural ensemble Museums are the ancient Jianfusi Monastery and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, around which there is a park, on the territory of which there is an exhibition center building with an exposition of monuments of material culture. The construction of the museum cost 220 million yuan (200 million invested by the central government, the remaining 20 by the government of Xi'an). The museum has been open to the public since May 18, 2007. Among Chinese museums, the Xi'an Museum occupies a special place - its location in ancient capital and the presence of real ancient buildings determine its uniqueness and uniqueness.
How to get there: stop "Xiaoyanta" (小雁塔), which can be reached by buses No. 7, 8, 18, 21, 29, 32, 40, 46, 203, 204, 218, 224, 407, 410, 508 , 521, 700, 707, 713, 720.
Opening hours: 9:00 - 16:00, Tuesday - day off.
Ticket: Free, 3,000 tickets are given out every day to visit the architectural ensemble of Jianfusi Monastery and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, as well as the Xi'an Museum. To climb the pagoda, you need a separate ticket for 30 yuan.
| Sights of Xi'an | ||
|---|---|---|
| AAAAA level | Terracotta Army | |
| AAAA level | Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Qujiang Aquarium. | |
| AAA level | Fengyu Manor, Dayanta Square, Huajiaosi Mosque, Shuyuan Gate, Xingqing Palace Park, Qujiang Pond Park, Hongmenyan Ruins, Boiling Valley, Chongyang Palace, Guangzhensi Monastery, Xi'an Incident Memorial Museum, Qinglongxi Monastery, Xi'an Botanical Garden, Shuiluyan Monastery. | |
| AA level | Qin Shi Huang Tomb, Efang Palace Ruins, Xi'an Museum, Shaanxi Provincial Nature Museum, Daming Palace Ruins, water world Qujiang, Louguantai Shrine, Daxingshansi Monastery, Lintong Museum, Gaoguan Waterfall, Lantian Man Excavations, Gaojia Dayuan Manor, Qujiang Hanyao, Baxianyan Monastery, Museum of Tang Art, Caotangsi Monastery, Qin Ershihuang and Huhai Tombs, Jiautai Valley, Jinyu Canal th, Chang'an Museum, Nanyutai Scenery, Baoqing Huata Pagoda, Lianhu Park, Revolution Park, Kuixingge Pavilion, Hu County Art Shops, Bianquemu, Dugong Temple, Eighth Army Memorial Museum, Taixingshan Scenery. | |
| protected monuments | Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xinjiaosi Monastery Pagoda, Xi'an City Wall, Xi'an Stele Forest, Banpo Ruins, Fenghao Ruins, Efang Palace Ruins, Chang'an Han City Ruins, Daming Palace Ruins, Qin Shi Huang's Tomb, Site of the Xi'an Incident, Lantian Man Excavations, Eighth Army Office Location , Xi'an Mosque, Duling Tomb, Jiangzhai Ruins, Sui Daxing City and Chang'an Tang City Ruins, Baqiao Bridge Ruins, Huaqing Palace Ruins, Xianyusi Monastery Buddha Pagoda, Bell Tower and Drum Tower, Shuiluyan Monastery, Kangjia Ruins, Laonyupo Ruins, City Ruins Liyang, Dongweiqiao Bridge Ruins, Kumarjiva Suburgan, Gongshutang, Shandaota Pagoda in Xiangjisi Monastery, Xi'an Deity Temple, Bayunt Pagoda, Chongyang Palace and Zuyan Monastery Forest of Steles, Qindongling Tomb, Ming Qin-wang's Tomb, Chang'an Shengshou Monastery Pagoda, Chang'an Monastery Pagoda Huayan, Zhaohuit Pagoda, Daqinsi Monastery Pagoda, Isushe Theatre. | |
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in Da Ci En (Great Kindness and Courtesy) Temple, which is located 4 km from Xi'an City. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China. This pagoda was built during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) specifically for the study of Buddhist scriptures. For centuries, this pagoda has suffered from adverse weather conditions, earthquakes and even wars. Most of the original building of the pagoda was destroyed, however, today we can see the same pagoda, in the same place and under the same name.
A pagoda was built in 589 during the Sui Dynasty. It was called Wu Lou Temple (Wu Lou translates as "five floors"). In 648, Prince Li Zhi funded a project to restore this temple in memory of his mother, who was very kind. The prince's mother died very early. Then the temple was called as it is called now - the Temple of kindness and courtesy. It is said that when Li Zhi became emperor of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), he remembered his mother twice a day by directing his gaze towards the temple from his Hanyuan Palace, which was built in 663.
Once the temple had 13 separate courtyards and 1879 magnificently decorated rooms. It was a very important place during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). After the fall of the dynasty, the temple and pagoda also fell into disrepair. The halls and rooms we see today were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Tang Dynasty government ordered the construction of a special room for the translation of Buddhist scriptures. It wanted the well-known master Xuan Zang to agree to become the head of this temple. Xuan Zang was a Buddhist monk who traveled to India. There he translated Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit and studied theories concerning consciousness, karma, and rebirth. These theories were later used by some of the popular schools of Buddhism.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652. The five-story building was 60 meters high. Since the old pagoda was already in poor condition, it was decided to build a new pagoda with 10 floors. This was done between 701 and 704. However, numerous wars in subsequent years, as well as a devastating earthquake in 1556, almost completely destroyed the pagoda. In its place, a building of 7 floors with a height of 64 meters was built. This is exactly the building we see today. It was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
This pagoda is an architectural marvel. It was built of brick, but no cement was used at all. The construction of this pagoda also used the "bracket" style, which is characteristic of traditional Chinese architecture. The seams between the layers of bricks and the "prisms" on each side of the pagoda are very visible. The tall majestic building of the pagoda, with its solemn appearance and simple style, is indeed a good example of traditional Chinese architecture.
The Big Goose Pagoda was erected on the site of the former Temple of Mother's Love in the south of Xi'an outside the City Wall. The 5-tier pagoda building was built in 652 AD. during the reign of the Tang Dynasty in Xi'an. After that, it was rebuilt several times and "grew" by another 3 tiers. Strong earthquake in the 16th century brought down its top, and today we can see the surviving seven tiers of the pagoda.
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Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas in "ancient" Xi'an
Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, China
As a symbol of old Xi'an, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It is located in the southern suburb of Xi'an, about 4 kilometers (2.49 miles) from the city center. Standing in the Da Ci'en Temple complex, it attracts many visitors with its fame in the Buddhist religion and its simple yet attractive style.
It is rated as a National, Cultural Relic Key as an AAAA Landmark. In addition, she was listed world heritage Unesco June 22, 2014, along with other sites along the ancient Silk Road. This entire scenic area includes the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at Daci'en Temple, and various squares, gardens, and other facilities around.
The Great Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were brought from India by Hierarch Xuan Zang. Xuan Zang left the city of Chang (ancient Xi'an), traveled along the Silk Road through the deserts, and finally arrived in India, the cradle of Buddhism. During 17 years of traveling and passing through 100 countries during this time, he received a lot of information about the Buddha, 657 types of sutras, and several relics of the Buddha. Having obtained permission from Emperor Gaozong (628-683), Xuan Zang, as the first abbot of Daci'en Temple, oversaw the construction of the pagoda inside it. With royal support, he asked 50 hierarchs at the temple to translate Sanskrit from the sutras into Chinese, with a total of 1335 volumes, marking a new era in the history of translation. Based on his trip to India, he also wrote a book titled Pilgrimage to the West in the Tang Dynasty, which scholars attach great importance to.
The building was first built 60 meters (197 feet) high, with five floors, but now - with two additional tiers - the height is 64.5 meters (211.6 feet). Outwardly, it looks like a cone with a square base, a simple but great masterpiece of Buddhist architecture. Constructed of brick, the object has a very solid structure. Inside the pagoda, the stairs wind up so that visitors can climb up and admire the panorama of the city from the arched doors on all four sides of each floor.
Exquisite Buddha statues are engraved on the walls by famous artist Yang Liben of the Tang Dynasty. Steles of prominent calligraphers also decorated the pagoda. As for the reason why this building is called the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, that is a legend. According to ancient Buddhist stories, there were two branches, one of which was not taboo to eat meat. One day, they couldn't find meat in and around the city to buy and eat. Seeing a group of large wild geese flying in the sky, one monk said to himself, “Today we have no hope of eating even a piece of rotten meat. I hope that the merciful Bodhisattva will give us at least some meat.” At that very moment, the leading wild goose broke its wings and fell to the ground. All the monks were amazed and believed that the Bodhisattva had manifested his spirit to order the predatory monks to be more pious.
They set up a pagoda at the place where the wild goose fell and stopped eating meat. Hence its name: Daci'en Temple Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The temple was built in 648, and today, with an area of 12.5 acres (50,738 square meters - one seventh of the original area), it still retains its grandeur.
Before entering the temple, there is a statue of Saint Xuanzang, a laudable hierarch. Statues of guarding lions are located on both sides of the gate, and after installation they began to function as talismans.
Upon entering the temple, you will see two buildings - the bell tower on the east side and the Drum Tower on the west. Along the central axis are Mahavir Hall, Preaching Hall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Xuanzang Sanzang Hall.
Squares and gardens around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
There are many illustrious squares and gardens around the pagoda and temple that provide locals and tourists alike wonderful holiday for free. The most remarkable thing is the largest musical fountain in Asia in the Northern Square. In addition, the sites with the statue of Reverend Xuanzang and the Great Tang All Day Mall are worth visiting in South Square.
Entrance fee: Daci'en temple entrance fee: 60 CNY
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 17:00
Opening hours of the musical fountain on the Northern Square:
1. Monday, Wednesday - Friday: 12:00, 21:00 (June 10 - October 5); 12:00, 20:30 (February 1 - June 9. October 6 - October 31)
2. Tuesday: 21:00 (June 10 - October 5); 20:30 (Feb 1 – Jun 9. Oct 6 – Oct 31)
3. Weekends and other regulatory holidays: 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 21:00 (June 10 - October 5); 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:30 (February 1 - June 9, October 6 - October 31)
*Note: There is no show from November until next January, except for the Spring Festival.
Transport:
1. Take Subway Line 2 to Xiaozhai Station (Exit C) and walk east for 10 minutes.
2. Bus e.g. , 606, 609, 701, 715, Tour Bus - Line 4, Line 6, Line 8 (610), Line 9 (320) and get off at Big Wild Goose Pagoda stop
3. Taxi costs about 15 CNY from railway station Xi'an to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
All the nonsense of traditional historians is smashed to smithereens with a careful study of the territory, and the accompanying text plate. You can learn more about this in the big 25-episode film “The Great Deception of the Chinese Pyramids” - click here!
For those who are too lazy to surf the Internet themselves, we present a selection of materials from “traditional” sources.
Dear friends, just for the sake of convenience, we put here excerpts from texts found on the Internet related to the topic "Xi'an City". We apologize to the authors and sites on which these texts were posted, for the fact that there are not always links to primary sources. But when collecting materials for our travels, highlighting and archiving links seemed unnecessary, and now it's too late.:wacko: :unsure: 😥
Question about Big Wild Goose Pagoda at night:
Hi, my train will arrive in Xi'an at 19.20pm. After checking in, I would like to visit the pagoda at night. I am interested in the time of the fountain show: when does it start and end? I also want to walk around and on the city wall. Is it possible to make a quick visit to both places?
P.S. We will only have one night stay in Xi'an. Thank you very much.
We answer:
The last show of the musical fountain at 20:30 (February 1 - June 9. October 6 - October 31); 21:00 (June 10 - October 5). The city wall closes at 22:00. My suggestion is to go to the city walls first and then watch the fountain show. After that, you can also wander around the Pagoda Square, which is also attractive. And taxis are recommended!
According to the location of the two attractions and the distances between them, it is better to climb the wall, and then visit the fountain show. In addition, the show lasts about 20 minutes. After that, at 21:00, I'm afraid you won't have enough time to enjoy getting yourself up on the wall for just an hour.
Q: How far is it from Drum Tower in the center of Xi'an to Big Wild Goose Pagoda?
We answer:
The distance is about 9 kilometers.
You can take public bus Take number 606 near Zhonglou Station (Bell Tower) and get off at South Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After arrival, you can immediately move to your destination.
Or you can take a taxi directly to South Square. Tariff no more than 20 CNY.
Tai Chi (taijiquan)
Sword exercises in Tai Chi have absorbed the qualities of Tai Chi Chuan and swordsmanship, although these practices have a history of only about 100 years. These actions now exist in several forms and styles such as Chen style, Yang style and Wu style.
Tai Chi and Kung Fu accessories are used in Tai Chi exercises. They are created on the basis of tai chi chuan, the principle of dance and other martial arts schools. Playing Tai Chi - Kung Fu is good for health.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda is not only one of the most famous tourist attractions in Xi'an, but also public place for sport and exercise. Xi'an every morning locals are going to south square to do exercises. The spectacle is free, curious and memorable :yahoo:
Big Goose Pagoda business card tourist Xi'an - was erected on the site of the former Temple of Mother's Love in the south of Xi'an outside the City Wall. The 5-tier pagoda building was built in 652 AD. during the reign of the Tang Dynasty in Xi'an. After that, it was rebuilt several times and "grew" by another 3 tiers. Strong earthquake in the 16th century brought down its top, and today we can see the surviving seven tiers of the pagoda.
There is an old legend about the origin of the name of the pagoda. She tells that in ancient times, Buddhists were divided into those who ate meat and vegetarians. One day, the Buddhists, who ate meat, ran out of meat, and they also failed to buy meat in the city. One of the monks said to his brothers, "I hope the merciful Bodhisattva will send us some meat." He raised his eyes to the sky and saw a flock of wild geese flying high in the sky. At the same moment, the large leader of the pack shuddered and fell down dead at the feet of the monk. The amazed monks realized that in this way the Bodhisattva gave them a sign that they should be more pious. In place of the fallen goose, a pagoda was built, called the Big Goose Pagoda. And the monks from that day stopped eating meat.
The built pagoda kept the Buddha statues brought from India, the ashes of the saint and sacred texts in Sanskrit brought by the traveling monk Xuan Zang. He not only brought the scrolls, but also translated the manuscripts into 1335 volumes in Chinese.
The Big Goose Pagoda is not only historical monument but also a worthy example of ancient Buddhist architecture. Its building, more than 64 meters high, has the shape of a square pyramid and is distinguished by its slenderness and strict proportions. Today it is one of the main monuments of Xi'an, which is visited by thousands of tourists. Visitors to the pagoda can get to the service of the monks, and in the mornings, on the square near the pagoda, the locals do Tai chi - exercises for the body and strengthening the spirit. In autumn, a colorful fountain show is arranged near the pagoda for residents of the city and tourists.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located on the central axis of the Jianfu Temple in South Xi'an, and rightfully occupies a place in the national AAAA ranking and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This Buddhist pagoda is from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Tourists can learn about the history and culture of Xi'an by visiting both the Pagoda itself and the Xi'an Museum in the southwestern part of the temple. The pagoda is not as famous as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it is more peaceful and calm. As part of the artistic legacy of the Buddhist architectures of the Tang Dynasty, it witnesses how Buddhism was introduced to China and integrated with national culture Han.
The object was named “Jianfu Temple Pagoda” during the Tang and Song Dynasties (960-1279). His real name is closely related to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the Yonghui period (650-655), during the reign of the Tang Dynasty, Da Ci'en Temple was built by Emperor Gaozong to house the sutras that the distinguished monk Xuan Zang had brought from India to Chang'an (today's Xi'an).
In the Jinglong period (707-710) - during the reign of the Tang Emperor Zhongzong - the "Jianfu Pagoda Temple" was built in order to store Buddhist sutras. Because it looked like the “Big Wild Goose Pagoda” but slightly smaller, “Jianfu Temple Pagoda” was named “Small Wild Goose Pagoda”, while the previous “Wild Goose Pagoda” in Da Ci' en became known as the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built with blue bricks. The original temple was 15 stories high and was about 148 feet (45 meters) high. Due to numerous severe storms and earthquakes the top two floors were destroyed. The 13-story pagoda that exists today is 142.4 feet (43.4 meters) high. The base of the pagoda is square, each side 37.34 feet (11.38 m).
Under the pagoda there is an underground palace. Multi-cornices are made from overlapping bricks.
The ground floor has two doors facing south and north respectively, while the other floors have exquisite windows. The height and length of the side of the line of each floor is gradually reduced. Therefore, the pagoda looks like a rectangular pyramid, with a beautiful design and perfect proportions.
Climbing the pagoda
Narrow wooden stairs run inside the pagoda, and the winds keep their way to the top, requiring a lot of effort on the part of those who make the ascent. Children and elderly people with poor physical condition are not recommended to climb. In addition, it is difficult for large people to go through the narrow stairs to the upper floors. There is a small open platform at the top due to the missing two floors.
It must be kept in mind that this is a very small venue, only able to accommodate ten people at a time. For tourists who have successfully reached the summit, this is a special experience, because from a bird's eye view, the entire temple is perfectly visible. You can even see a panoramic view of ancient city Xi'an on a clear day.
In 1487 there was a strong earthquake and caused damage. The crack was over 1.1 feet (0.33 meters) wide. In another strong earthquake in 1521, the crack disappeared and the two parts of the pagoda magically connected to each other during the night. People felt very embarrassed and called it a "magic combination". The mystery was revealed during the rebuilding after 1949.
It turned out that the Small Wild Goose Pagoda can withstand dozens of earthquakes, because the wise ancient artisans created the foundation in the form of a hemisphere of rammed earth. In this way, the pressure can be evenly distributed when an earthquake occurs.
Morning bells ringing
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda has been known as one of the "Top Eight Scenes of Xi'an" since ancient times. The original bell was built in the third year (1192) of the reign of Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin Dynasty. It was installed in the Jianfu Temple and rang every morning to pray for the happiness of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Now the bell hangs on the bell tower next to the pagoda, and its copy hangs in a steel frame, open to tourists.
How to get there:
Bus ride:
1.. Bus lines 18, 21, 29, 32, 40, 46, 203, 204, 218, 224, 258, 407, 410, 508, 521, 618, 700, 707, 713 Tourist lines 7 or 8 - get off at the "Small Wild Goose Pagoda" station and get to the Jianfu Temple through the North Gate.
2. Take bus 18, 203, 204, 218, 258, 407, 410, 913, or Tourist Line 7 - get off at Xiajiazhuang station and get to the temple through the West Gate near the Xi'an Museum.
By subway: Take line 2 - get off at Nanshaomen Station, get off at Exit A1 or A2, and walk west to reach the temple through the North Gate.
Ticket price
Temple: Free on ordinary days.
20 CNY from the 1st to the 15th of the first month of the lunar calendar
Hike to Small Wild Goose Pagoda: 30 CNY
Opening Hours 9:00-17:00
* The temple does not allow entry after 21:00 and must leave at 22:00 while the pagoda closes at 17:00 as usual.
Ticket Price The temple: Free of charge on ordinary days; CNY 20 to 25 during the temple fair from 1st to 15th of the first lunar month.
Ascending the Small Wild Goose Pagoda: CNY 30
Opening Hours 9:00-17:00
* During the temple fair, the temple allows entry until 21:00 and is emptied at 22:00, while the pagoda closes at 17:00 as usual.
Little Goose Pagoda Monument Buddhist culture in Xi'an
The Little Goose Pagoda was built in front of the entrance to Da Jian Fu Si Temple and separates the territory of the entire temple complex from the street. The Little Goose Pagoda is located next to the Big Goose Pagoda. She is 55 years younger than her "sister". Its architecture follows a large pagoda, but it is 21 meters lower.
Each of its 13 tiers is connected by a circular staircase with exits from the north and south. The pagoda building narrows from tier to tier, while the pagoda is rounded. This type of structure is typical for Buddhist pagodas. The entrance to the temple, as well as its interior, are decorated with images of celestials and decorative embroidery from the Tang Dynasty. Artifacts of Buddhist culture brought by wandering monks are also kept here.
For 5 yuan, visitors to the pagoda can make 3 strokes on the large ancient bell of the pagoda: the first - as a sign of respect for their parents, the second - to wish happiness and health to family members, the third - for good luck and success in their own affairs. There are pagodas at the top Observation deck, overlooking the city, and near the pagoda there is a beautiful shady park for relaxing and walking.
Pagodas and stupas are not built just like that. They are installed specifically for the storage of Buddhist relics. In our case, the Wild Goose Pagoda was built as a repository of texts and artifacts brought back from India by the traveler Xuanzan.
He traveled for 17 years, visited 100 countries and studied with the best masters in India. From there he brought back many Buddha statues, more than 600 sacred texts (sutras) and several relics.
The pagoda has become not only an important place of pilgrimage, but also scientific center where texts were translated from Sanskrit into Chinese. The Wild Goose Pagoda made an invaluable contribution and gave a giant impetus to the development of the philosophy of Buddhism in China.
A bit of history
This tower was built under the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty. We understand that the names of Chinese dynasties do not mean anything to most readers, so we will tell you a little about this era.
The first unification of China by the ruler Qin Shi Huang took place in 220 BC. It was Xian that was the capital of the empire, and the mausoleum with the body of the first emperor is located here. After his reign, the Han dynasty reigned in China, which ruled for another 420 years. In the next 400 years, there was little good in the history of China - the period of the Three Kingdoms and the invasion of nomads. And only in 581 did a new unification of all China take place under the central authority of the Sui dynasty, which, however, ruled for only 37 years, and was already replaced by the Tang dynasty.
The most interesting thing is that the emperor who built the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was not a Chinese himself. He came from the Toba steppe people, who were assimilated by the Chinese. It was the origin of the Tang emperors that gave China a powerful impetus to development, because now they had excellent relations with the steppe peoples.
The Tang era is the century of the peak of the power of the emperors of China, when their decrees were executed in the space from the Yellow Sea to the Caspian Sea. The zone of their cultural, economic and political influence included the territory of modern Kazakhstan in the west, Thailand and Vietnam in the south, and Primorsky Krai and Korea in the north.
This period is not well known to representatives of Western civilization. Perhaps the only reference to it is the animated film Mulan (poster in the picture on the right). The action of this cartoon takes place on the eve of the accession of the Tang Dynasty.
It was during this period in 652 that the traveler and philosopher Xuanzan asked the emperor to build this pagoda to store the texts and relics he brought from India. The ruler gave his consent, and the first version of the Wild Goose Pagoda, 54 meters high and 5 floors, was built.
The pagoda stood for 50 years and fell apart. This happened already during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. She was very supportive of Buddhism and rebuilt the Wild Goose Pagoda as a 10-story structure.
So the pagoda survived until 1556, when a serious earthquake occurred in this area of China, severely damaging the structure. The top three floors had to be removed. This is how the Big Wild Goose Pagoda with a height of 7 floors, which we see now in Xi'an, appeared. Since then, it has only been repaired, and the last repair was made in 1964.