National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit (First Batch)—Youguo Temple Pagoda

National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit (First Batch)—Youguo Temple Pagoda 【Cultural and Tourism Checklist】 National Historic and Cultural City (First Batch)—Kaifeng City One of China's Eight Ancient Capitals—Kaifeng National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit (First Batch)—Youguo Temple Pagoda 【Historical Significance】 The Youguo Temple Pagoda, built in the first year of Huangyou during the Northern Song Dynasty (1049 AD). The pagoda is constructed with brown glazed bricks, giving it the appearance of being made of iron from a distance, hence the name 'Iron Pagoda'. It has an octagonal base, thirteen stories, and stands 55.08 meters tall, with an interior that can be climbed. The pagoda's intricate details include over fifty types of decorations carved into the glazed bricks, such as flying apsaras, descending dragons, qilins, bodhisattvas, powerful warriors, lions, and treasure flowers. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the figures are vividly portrayed. It is the earliest existing large-scale glazed structure in China and is considered a masterpiece among ancient Chinese glazed pagodas, earning it the title 'Number One Pagoda in the World'. 【Historical Evolution】 ►Northern Qi Dynasty, the construction of the solitary Duju Temple began ►Tang Dynasty, renamed to Fengshan Temple ►Five Dynasties, renamed to Dengjue Chan Temple ►Northern Song Dynasty, renamed to Kaibao Temple, one of the four major temples in the Eastern Capital at the time, the wooden pagoda was initially built to enshrine the Buddhist relics, Emperor Taizong of Song bestowed the name 'Fusheng Pagoda' ►Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhenzong of Song, bestowed the name 'Linggan Pagoda' ►In the fourth year of the Qingli era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1044 AD), the Linggan Pagoda was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire ►In the first year of the Huangyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1049 AD), Emperor Renzong of Song issued an edict to rebuild the Kaibao Temple Pagoda, using glazed components that imitated the structure of the wooden pagoda, which is the current Iron Pagoda ►At the end of the Song Dynasty, the temple was destroyed but the pagoda remained, and the Jurchens repaired the temple ►Ming Dynasty, renamed to Youguo Temple, commonly known as Iron Pagoda Temple ►At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River breached, destroying the temple, leaving only the pagoda ►Repaired during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty ►Renamed to Ganlu Temple during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty ►During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, the Yellow River flooded, destroying the temple, leaving only the pagoda ►Republic of China, the temple was repaired multiple times ►In 1938, the Iron Pagoda was severely damaged by the war fires of the Japanese army ►In 1957, the Iron Pagoda was restored and opened as Iron Pagoda Park 【Tour Overview】 The only attraction in the Iron Pagoda Park is this ancient pagoda, which can also be climbed for a fee. In front of the pagoda, there is a Jieyin Hall, housing a Song Dynasty Jieyin Buddha.