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In the southern part of Xian, you will find what is called the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The main purpose of the Pagoda was to provide storage for the figurines and sutras of the Buddha which was brought to China by Xuanzang, a Buddhist traveler and translator. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient and holy place for Buddhist monks.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally built to a height of 60 meters with 5 storeys, and later, two additional storeys were added to reach a height of 64.5 meters. Over the years, there have been many legends on how the name, Big Wild Goose Pagoda was derived. Different versions have sprung coming from past ancestors and have been passed on from generation to generation. One of the most imaginative version is about the miraculous appearance of a roast goose out of nowhere to feed a community of Buddhists who were starving. This story is the most famous one. It is the version that most Chinese people love to tell tourists who are not familiar with their culture. The Da Cien Temple is where the Big Wild Goose Pagoda stands. The design of the current Big Wild Goose Pagoda is not as intriguing as its original design. Its walls are mere projections that separate the levels which gets smaller as it ascends. If you look at it long enough, it looks like layers of cakes. The North square of the Pagoda is one of the most charming sections and has held many records in the history of Asia. It is known to be one of the biggest Tang culture squares, with the biggest and largest fountain and waterscape sculptures with many benches and a large acoustic complex. A very interesting observation about the Pagoda is that it does not look anything like a Pagoda. If you are a frequent visitor of Oriental destinations, you will encounter pagodas that have roofs shaped like a concave, which is not the case with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. For sure, if you do not have any idea about how this pagoda looks, you will be misled into finding one that is shaped like any other pagoda, which is the main reason why many visitors come to Xian to see this interesting monument. If you climb the wooden staircase that is 240 feet from the ground, you can see a majestic view from above. From there, you can gaze at the green fields and the urban landscape that surrounds the pagoda. If you do not have the guts and the stomach for such heights, then it’s better to stay below and appreciate the beauty of the Buddhist statues that can be found in the courtyard shrine. For history lovers, it is worthwhile tracing back the journey of how this pagoda originated by observing the writings on the wall. It describes how the pagoda was transported from India to its present location where it stands. |
