Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian, China

The Big Goose Pagoda, or Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Chinese: 大雁塔; Pinyin: Dàyàn Tǎ), is located in southern Xi'an, China. The pagoda was built in 652 and back then had five stories. The pagoda was built to store sutras and figurines of Buddha, that were brought to China by the Buddhist translator and traveller Xuanzang. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1479x2000, 279 KB)Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian, China, September 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1479x2000, 279 KB)Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian, China, September 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Pinyin (拼音, pÄ«nyÄ«n) literally means join (together) sounds (a less literal translation being phoneticize, spell or transcription) in Chinese and usually refers to HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n (汉语拼音, literal meaning: Han language pinyin), which is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin. ... City nickname: Changan Location Image:Map of city xian. ... Chinese Pagodas (Chinese å¡”, pinyin ta) are a traditional part of Chinese architecture, introduced from India along with Buddhism as protective structures for Buddhist relics. ... Events Khazaria becomes an independent state (approximate date) Rodoald succeeds his father Rothari as king of the Lombards Births Clotaire III, king of the Franks Deaths Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of Muhammed, progenitor of the Abbasids Saint Ida of Nivelles, widow of Pippin of Landen, monastic foundress Rothari... Sutra (सूत्र) in Sanskrit is derived from the verb √siv, meaning to sew. ... A rare Dresden porcelain figurine Figurine is a diminutive form of the word figure, and generally refers to a small, human-made object that represents some sort of being. ... Xuanzang, Dunhuang cave, 9th century. ...

In the beginning of 8th century under the ruling of Empress Wu Zetian five more storeys were added to the pagoda. Sadly wars on later times damaged the pagoda reducing its height to current seven storeys. It stands 64 meters tall and from the top it offers great view over the city of Xi'an. Wu Zetian (武則天) (625 - December 16, 705), personal name Wu Zhao (武曌), was the only female emperor in the history of China, founding her own dynasty, the Zhou (周), and ruling under the name Emperor Shengshen (聖神皇帝) from 690 to 705. ...

Surroundings

Around the pagoda lies the Temple of Great Maternal Grace; Da Ci'en. The temple was originally built in AD 589 and rebuilt in AD 647 by Li Zhi, who later became the Tang Emperor Gaozong. The Temple of Great Maternal Grace was built in memory of his mother Empress Wende. Xuanzang's statue stands in front of the temple area.

See also

• Small Wild Goose Pagoda