Yunyansi pagoda is called Tiger Hill pagoda by local people. It was began to built in 959 A.D. and was completed in Song Dynasy (961 A.D.) It is a brick pagoda with seven floors and eight sides. The height is 47.7 meters. It leans to the north to the east and has a lean of 3.59 degrees. It weighs about 6000 tons. This pagoda has become the Symbol of ancient SuZhou. It was put in the protection list of national important historical relics in 1961.
[The French version of the sign contained a little more information, and there is also information at Wikipedia. Additionally to the above we can add that: The Emperor was Posthumously Named GongDi, but his Personal Name was Chai Zongxun. He was 7 years old when he became Emperor and reigned 2 years. Though the Pagoda is made of brick it looks like wood. It slants 2.34 metres to the north east.]
After entering the complex from the North Entrance, one follows an uphill path before coming into this open area.
Taken from the open area.
This area has many features including a nice performance stage to the right and up the stairs where this photo was taken.
Performance Area
At the top of these stairs one passes through:
Five Sages Hall
The place was originally called Five Sages Temple where sacrifices to the five wise men, i.e. Liu Yuxi, Bai Juyi and Wei Yingwu of Tang Dynasty, as well as Wang Yucheng and Su Shi of Song Dynasty were offered. It also has a stele with an inscription concerning these five sages.
The Base area of the Pagoda.
We have travelled from North to toward the south. We are on top of the Hill, soon to go down toward the south gate.
Between the Stage area and the Pagoda there is some bridge work that connects various buildings and areas. It is quite scenic - and perhaps dangerous. With all those people up on the bridge with the railing (not to mention the one without railing), it did not look that safe,
Looking south from the top of the hill with Pagoda behind.
Yulan Magnolia Villa
The villa got its name because of the surrounding yulan magnolias. According to the records, there used to be one yulan magnolia. It was legendarily transplanted from Fujian Province (Also called Min) by a certain person named Zhu Mian in Song Dynasty. It lived through several dynasties and was there even in the years of Emperoros Tongzhi and Guangxu of Qing Dynasty. Later however, the villa was destroyed. After the liberation, the villa was reconstructed, and along with that, more yulan magnolias were planted around the building. In early springs, with the buds ready to bloom, the place and its surrounding magnolias form an elegant and beautiful scene, mixed with an air of pleasantness, quietness and comfort.
Room Leading to Seclusion
Colloquially called Temple of Repudiating a Debt, it used to be the old location of a well-know person, Ying Hejing, of Song Dynasty. Later it was rebuilt into Luyu Pavilion unit it was destroyed. In the years of Emperor Jiaqing of Qing Dynasty, the building was again rebuilt and renamed as the Temple of Monsters. In those old times, whenever it came to the New Year's Eve according to Chinese lunar calendar, poor people would come and hide in here to descape the debts they weren't able to pay. That's why it was called Temple of Repudiating a Debt, even to this day.
Three-Fear House
The house used to be the residence of Yin Hejing, a famous rationalistic Confucian philosopher of Song Dynasty, who gave the name Three-Fear to the house. The name was taken from the Analects of Confucius: A gentleman fears three things - Providence, authorities and words of saints. (I guess the women's movement hadn't arrived yet!)
Looking north from the South gate
Mud Map
Looking up one side of the Canal at the South Gate
Looking the other direction - Boys playing
Refreshing Waterfall
This area is found on a road running North to South skirting the Hill.
Green-Embracing Pavilion
The pavilion was built by Lu Zhaoyu in the 51st year of Emperor Qianlong (1786 AD). Zhaoyu was a descendant of Lu Guimeng who was a well-known agriculturalist and poet of Tang Dynasty. Later, however, the building was destroyed. In 2002, it was rebuilt. The pavilion has two stories, with luxuriant trees surrounding its four sides, hence the name Green-Embracing Pavilion.
Part of the Green-Embracing Pavilion
Having left the Green-Embracing Pavilion - we head back to the North Entrance
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
Did you climb all the way up to the Pagoda? like the other time I did at The Hongshan pagoda. just the few steps would get you pass away? then you should have tried the steps to Qingcheng Mountain here in Chengdu.
