Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Introduction

In midsummer of the first year of Zhengsheng under Empress Wu (695), Yijing returned by sea to Henan, having “traveled twenty-five years through more than thirty countries” (Song Gaoseng Zhuan, juan 1). When he set out, Xuanzang was still presiding over the translation bureau in Chang’an; by the time he returned, Xuanzang had been dead for thirty years.

The Jianfu Temple where Yijing translated scriptures was originally the Da Xianfo Temple founded in the first year of Wenming (684), renamed Jianfu Temple in the first year of Tianshou (690). According to the You Chengnan Ji, “during the Jinglong era, palace women collectively contributed funds to build a fifteen-story pagoda” – unlike the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda which was built by imperial decree, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was funded by donations from the women of the inner palace.

In the Yimao year of Jiajing (1556), an earthquake split the pagoda in two; in the Guihai year (1563), another earthquake reunited it. During the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty, “during the rebellion of the Yunnan traitor, Wang Fuchen revolted and occupied Pingliang, and the pagoda suddenly split down the middle. When the rebellion was quelled, the pagoda returned to its former state” (Shaanxi Tongzhi, citing Long Shu Yuwen) – a brick pagoda that cracked in synchrony with a rebellion and healed again as peace was restored.

After the Jurchen migration of the Zhenyou era, “all was devastated and destroyed, only the brick pagoda remained standing.” When Chavannes photographed it in 1907 (included in Mission archéologique dans la Chine septentrionale), no temple halls surrounded the pagoda.

Historical Documents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

1907

Taken by the French Sinologist Édouard Chavannes in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province in 1907. The picture is currently included in Mission archéologique dans la Chine septentrionale.

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1930s

Tokiwa Daijo and Sekino Tadashi included the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, its south-door lintel stones, and image-stone rubbings in volume IX of Shina Bunka Shiseki, plates IX-65 and IX-66.

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3D Model

Model from funes.world - Small Wild Goose Pagoda