Small Wild Goose Pagoda, situated in
Jianfu Temple about one kilometer south of the downtown
area, is a historical legacy left by the
Tang Dynasty (618-907). Its well-known "Morning
Bell Chimes" is regarded as one of the eight famous
scenic features in Shaanxi Province.
The temple, established in AD684 in honor of Emperor
Tang Gaozong (Li Zhi) upon the centenary of his death,
was particularly associated with the pilgrim monk, Yijing,
who was a great translator of that time. "Xianfu",
meaning the "temple of offering good fortune"
was its original name. It got its present name "Jianfu
Temple" in AD698. According to historical records,
the monk Yijing had spent over 20 years traveling around
many countries. When he brought 400 sutras back to Chang'an
City, (now Xian), the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built
to house and protect these sutras. Then Yijing began
the task of translating them into Chinese, which records
cultural exchanges between China and India.
Completed in AD707, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is
a brick structure with dense eaves. It had 15 storeys
and was 45 meters high. An earthquake in 1555 damaged
and reduced it to 13storeys, 43 meters high. Some restorations
were done in 1965. The pagoda was solidified with reinforced
concrete and a new internal staircase built so that
tourists could climb to the top.
Behind the pagoda you can find a small bell tower standing
in the courtyard. It houses a large bell measuring 4.5
meters high and weighing 10 tons. It was cast in 1192
with 16 lucky words engraved on it. Legend has it that
if someone misses his faraway family, he only needs
to write down his family's name and address on a label,
the bell will ring sending his regards to his family.
It sounds so good. Do you want to have a try? |
