20250503 Between the Southern Pagoda and Northern Temple, Stealing a Half-Day's Leisure at Yunju Temple

20250503 Between the Southern Pagoda and Northern Temple, Stealing a Half-Day's Leisure at Yunju Temple During the May Day holiday, I took a self-drive trip to Yunju Temple in Fangshan. The Southern Pagoda was originally built in 1117 during the Liao Dynasty by monk Shao Tan, standing as an eleven-tiered octagonal brick pagoda at 30 meters tall, also known as the Sakyamuni Buddha Relic Pagoda or Arhat Pagoda. Destroyed by Japanese artillery fire in 1942, only its octagonal base remained until its reconstruction in the new century. Architectural Features: The rebuilt Southern Pagoda maintains its eleven-tiered octagonal design with brick and tile construction, facing the Northern Pagoda to recreate the Liao Dynasty's architectural essence. Below it lies a recently constructed underground stone sutra chamber housing over 10,000 Liao and Jin Dynasty stone sutras originally unearthed here. Above the chamber stands the original Liao-era "Yajing Pagoda," a unique sutra pillar-style stone pagoda in China. The Wangong Pagoda Courtyard, originally in Shuitou Village, was built to honor Master Jingwan, the founder of Yunju Temple. In 1592, Master Daguan Zhenke redeemed the courtyard with support from Empress Dowager Cisheng. - Architectural Remains: The centerpiece is the Wangong Pagoda, built in 1094 as Master Jingwan's relic pagoda. This six-meter-tall octagonal three-tiered stone pagoda features intricate carvings: a square Sumeru base supporting an octagonal body inscribed with "Founder Wangong's Pagoda," topped by three wooden-imitation stone eaves and a spire with lotus motifs, a hemispherical bowl, seven rings, and a jewel finial—a masterpiece of Liao craftsmanship. Also present is a 4.21-meter-tall 1592 stele recording the courtyard's history, with exquisite carvings of twin dragons playing with a pearl, lingzhi mushrooms, and waves.