大雁塔

The Dayan Pagoda

We are now visiting the famous Dayan Pagoda.It is about four kilometers from the urban center of Xi'an.The Dayan Pagoda is one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in china.

In 652 AD xuanzang proposed to the emperor that a pagoda be built inside the temple to store the scriptures and statues that he had brought back from India.The Emperor Gaozong readily agreed with him,and raised funds by selling things left behind by deceased court maids.The five-story initial pagaoda had an earthen body with bricks applied on the exterior.From 701-704,during the Empress Wu Zetian's reign,the pagoda was rebuilt into the towerlike seven-story brick pagoda you see today.Standing 64 meters high,the bottom of the pagoda measures 25 meters high,the bottom of the pagoda measures 25 meters on all four sides and the length of its platform is 45 meters on each side.

Built by Monk Xuanzang,the Dayan Pagoda is a copy of the Yan Pagoda in India from where its name was derived.However,it has the world "Da" added to suggest the Mahayana Buddhism.