Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located in Xi'an, Shaanxi, was first built in 707 during the Tang Dynasty to store the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back by the eminent monk Yijing. This dense-eaved brick pagoda witnessed the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road, is an important part of the Jianfu Temple, one of the three major scripture translation sites in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, and is a precious relic of dense-eaved brick pagodas from the Tang Dynasty. It currently has 13 stories and is 43.38 meters high.
Introduction
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built to store the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back by the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Yijing. Located in the Beilin District of Xi’an, it was first built in 707 and is also known as the Jianfu Temple Pagoda. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was originally a 15-story dense-eaved brick pagoda. After being damaged by several earthquakes and undergoing multiple renovations, it now has 13 stories and stands at a height of 43.38 meters. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is directly related to a major event in the history of Buddhism’s spread along the Silk Road - the journey of the eminent Tang monk Yijing westward by sea to seek the Dharma. The Jianfu Temple, where the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located, was one of the three major scripture translation sites in Chang’an during the Tang Dynasty, which testifies to the prevalence of Buddhism in Chang’an at that time. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is the earliest preserved example of its kind of dense-eaved brick pagoda from the Tang Dynasty and is a precious example of the early period when the Buddhist architectural form of the pagoda was introduced to the Central Plains.
Historical Documents
Records of a Journey to the South of the City
自务本西门，入圣容院，观荐福寺塔。
From the Wuben West Gate, I entered the Shengrong Courtyard to see the Jianfu Temple Pagoda.
张注曰：圣容院盖唐荐福寺之院也，今为二寺，寺之浮图今正谓之荐福寺塔，尚存焉。
Zhang’s note says: The Shengrong Courtyard was a courtyard of the Jianfu Temple in the Tang Dynasty. Now there are two temples, and the pagoda of the temple is now called the Jianfu Temple Pagoda, which still exists.)
其寺文明元年立，谓之大献佛寺，天授元年改为荐福寺，景龙中，宫人率出钱，起塔十五层。
The temple was established in the first year of the Wenming era (684 AD) and was called the Daxianfo Temple. In the first year of the Tianshou era (690 AD), it was renamed the Jianfu Temple. During the Jinglong era (707-710 AD), palace ladies raised money to build a fifteen-story pagoda.)
续注曰：贞祐乙亥岁，塔之缠腰尚存，辛卯迁徙，废荡殆尽，惟砖塔在焉。
A later note says: In the Yihai year of the Zhenyou era (1215 AD), the bands around the pagoda still existed. In the Xinmao year (1231 AD), after a relocation, it was almost completely destroyed, with only the brick pagoda remaining.)
Annals of Shaanxi
长安荐福寺塔名小雁塔，唐时建，凡十五级。
The pagoda of Jianfu Temple in Chang’an is named the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built during the Tang Dynasty and had fifteen stories.)
嘉靖乙卯地震，裂为二，及癸亥地震，复合。
During the earthquake of the Yimao year in the Jiajing era (1555 AD), it split in two. After the earthquake of the Guihai year (1563 AD), it was reunited.)
滇逆之变，王辅臣叛，据平凉，塔忽中裂。乱平，塔复如故。
During the Yunnan rebellion, Wang Fuchen rebelled and occupied Pingliang. The pagoda suddenly split in the middle. After the rebellion was suppressed, the pagoda was restored to its original state.)
Photographs
Taken by the French Sinologist Édouard Chavannes in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province in 1907. The picture is currently included in “Archaeological Atlas of Northern China”.
