This list of pagodas in Beijing comprises all Buddhist and Taoist pagodas erected within Beijing Municipality, an area which covers the city of Beijing as well as its surrounding districts and counties. The list includes some important pagodas that are no longer standing.
Statue of the monk Haiyun 海雲 (1203–1257), found in the underground hall of the Haiyun Pagoda of Qingshou Temple when it was demolished in 1954; the statue is now at the Capital Museum.
Pagodas have been erected in the city of Beijing since at least the Sui dynasty (581–618). Many large-scale pagodas were erected during the Liao dynasty (907–1125), when Beijing was one of the four secondary capitals established by the Khitans. Most of the pagodas built during the Liao dynasty are octagonal, solid pagodas made out of brick and stone, with multiple tiers of closely spaced eaves. Important examples of Liao pagodas in Beijing include the Tiankai pagoda (erected c.1110), the Yunju pagoda (erected c. 1118). and the Tianning pagoda (erected c. 1120). The latter pagoda is the oldest surviving major building in the city of Beijing.[1]
Beijing was promoted to be the principal capital of the JurchenJin dynasty (1115–1234) in 1153. The Jin capital was destroyed by the Mongols, under Genghis Khan, in 1215, and no pagodas dating from this period survive within the city of Beijing. However, a group of five pagodas erected within a temple at Silver Mountain (銀山) near Beijing is still standing.
During the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), Beijing was for the first time the capital of all China, and under the auspices of Kublai Khan the city (known as Khanbaliq in Mongolian or Dadu in Chinese) was rebuilt on a grander scale. Pagodas constructed during the Yuan dynasty include traditional Liao-style multi-eaved pagodas, such as the twin pagodas of Qingshou Temple (demolished in 1954). In addition, as the Mongolian rulers of the Yuan dynasty were patrons of Tibetan Buddhism, this period saw the introduction of a new Tibetan style pagoda, painted white and in the shape of a stupa (or an inverted monk's begging bowl), often referred to as a dagoba. The fine example of a white dagoba at Miaoying Temple was commissioned by Kublai Khan in 1271, and constructed under the supervision of the Nepali architect Araniko (Arginer).[2] An unusual "straddling the street pagoda", consisting of an arch surmounted by three white dagobas was built by command of the last Yuan emperor, Toghon Temür, in 1342–1345, although now only the arch base is still standing.
Beijing continued as the capital of China during most of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). A fine example of a Ming dynasty pagoda is the Pagoda of Cishou Temple, built in 1576 by the Wanli Emperor for the Empress Dowager Li, which is modelled on the Liao dynasty pagoda at Tianning Temple.[3]
Beijing was the capital of China throughout the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Like the Mongolians during the Yuan dynasty, the Manchu rulers of the Qing dynasty were patrons of Tibetan Buddhism, and so the Qing dynasty saw the erection of further examples of Tibetan-style white dagobas, including examples at Dajue Temple and on an island in Beihai Park. Other examples of pagodas from this period include the Duobao Glazed Pagoda in the Summer Palace, which is covered in glazed statuettes of buddhas.
During the 20th century, some pagodas in Beijing were destroyed by war, particularly during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945). After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, a new era of modernization threatened the survival of many ancient buildings and structures in Beijing. Despite the vocal protests of the architect Liang Sicheng, a pair of famous pagodas in the centre of the city (the twin pagodas of Qingshou Temple), built during the Yuan dynasty, were demolished in 1954 so that Chang'an Avenue could be enlargened.[4]
Map all coordinates in "List of pagodas in Beijing" usingOpenStreetMap
On the site of the Chongfu Temple (崇福寺), founded during the Sui or Tang dynasties. The pagoda collapsed in June 1977, and more than 60 religious artefacts were recovered from the ruins.[5]
Biyun Temple (Temple of Azure Clouds) Diamond throne pagoda 碧雲寺金剛寶座塔
Diamond throne pagoda, 34.7 metres (114 ft) in height.
The Temple of Azure Clouds was founded during the Yuan dynasty, and the pagoda constructed as part of the renovation of the temple by the Qianlong Emperor in 1748.
A "straddling the street" style pagoda (過街塔), consisting of an arch base, on which three white stupa style pagodas were erected.
Originally at the south gate to the Yongming Baoxiang Temple (永明寶相寺). The three pagodas on the arch had collapsed by the reign of the Zhengtong Emperor (1427–1464), and now only the arch remains.
White, stupa style pagoda, 50.9 metres (167 ft) in height.[8]
Built on the site of a Liao dynasty pagoda erected in 1092. The current pagoda was commissioned by Kublai Khan in 1271, and its construction was supervised by the Nepali architect Araniko. In 1978, many religious artefacts deposited in the pinnacle of the stupa in 1753 by the Qianlong Emperor were discovered.[2][9]
Octagonal, nine-storeyed, brick pagoda, 16 metres (52 ft) in height.
A seven-storeyed brick pagoda was built to house the remains of Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246), but a new nine-storeyed pagoda was built around the original pagoda in 1753, and the original pagoda was only rediscovered in 1986.[10]
Qingshou Temple Twin Pagodas (Pagoda of Haiyun and Pagoda of Ke'an) 慶壽寺雙塔 (海雲塔、可庵塔)
Two octagonal, multi-eaved style pagodas, one named after the temple's eminent abbot, the Chan master Haiyun 海雲 (1203–1257), the other named after Haiyun's disciple, Ke'an 可庵. The Pagoda of Haiyun was nine storeys high, and the Pagoda of Ke'an was seven storeys high.
On the site of the Qingshou Temple (慶壽寺), which was founded during the Jin dynasty, in 1186. The two pagodas were demolished in 1954 to widen Chang'an Avenue.[11]
A group of five pagodas built on the site of the Yanshou Temple (延壽寺), and two separate pagodas. Two of the pagodas date to the Liao dynasty, and five of the pagodas date to the Jin dynasty. The temples were destroyed during the Second Sino-Japanese War.[12]
On the site of the Tiankai Temple (天開寺), founded during the Tang dynasty. A pagoda was first built on this site during the Tang dynasty, but the present pagoda dates to the Liao dynasty. In 1990, more than 30 religious artefacts were recovered from the pagoda during emergency excavations to secure the safety of the pagoda. The pagoda was restored in 2005.[13]
On the site of a temple where there were originally several dozen multi-eaved style brick pagodas dating to the Jin, Yuan and Ming dynasties. All but one of these pagodas were destroyed during the Second Sino-Japanese War.[15]
Octagonal, brick pagoda separated into three vertical sections, with the top section comprising nine layers with niches for Buddhist sculptures all around.
There are inscriptions dating to the Liao, Jin and Yuan dynasties written in ink on the pagoda, including inscriptions dated the 6th year of the Xianyong era (1070) and the 7th year of the Shouchang era (1101).
On the site of Yilin Temple (義林寺). Destroyed during an earthquake in 1720. In 1963 the underground hall of the pagoda was excavated, and about thirty religious artefacts were discovered.[16]
On the site of the Puzhao Temple (普照寺). Destroyed in the mid 20th century. In 1988 the pagoda base was excavated, and more than 40 religious artefacts, as well as a large quantity of coins, were found.[17]
Yong'an Temple White Pagoda (Beihai Park White Pagoda) 永安寺白塔 (北海公園白塔)
Octagonal, eleven-tiered, multi-eaved style stone pagoda, 30 metres (98 ft) in height.
Built to house Buddhist scriptures engraved on stone tablets during the reign of Emperor Daozong of Liao. Between 1957 and 1958 10,082 stone tablets engraved with Buddhist scriptures during the Liao and Jin dynasties were recovered from the underground hall in the pagoda.[18]
Diamond throne pagoda, with a square base 7.7 metres (25 ft) in height, surmounted by four eleven-storeyed square-based pagodas at the corners and one thirteen-storeyed square-based pagoda in the middle. In total the diamond throne pagoda is 17 metres (56 ft) in height.
^"Tiankai Pagoda in Fangshan District". Information board at an exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing. Accessed 2013-12-08.
^"Tiankai Pagoda in Fangshan District". Information board at Tianning Temple, Beijing. Accessed 2013-12-12.
^"Wayao Pagoda Fangshan District". Information board at an exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing. Accessed 2013-12-08.
^"Wugou Jinggang Sarira Pagoda in Shunyi District". Information board at an exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing. Accessed 2013-12-08.
^"Yexian Pagoda in Miyun County". Information board at an exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing. Accessed 2013-12-08.
^"Pagoda for Preserving Stone Scriptures in Yunju Temple, Fangshan District". Information board at an exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing. Accessed 2013-12-08.
Archaeological Team of Beijing (1962). 北京名勝古跡 [Places of Historic Interest and Scenic Beauty in Beijing]. Beijingshi Wenwu Gongzuodui.
Aldrich, M. A. (2006). The Search for a Vanishing Beijing: A Guide to China's Capital Through the Ages. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN978-962-209-777-3.
Wang, Jun (2011). Beijing Record: A Physical and Political History of Planning Modern Beijing. World Scientific. ISBN978-9814295727.
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