Home / Travel Blog / Blog Details
For over thirteen centuries, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) has stood in the heart of Xi’an, a silent, steadfast witness to the ebb and flow of empires, ideas, and people. In a world of constant change, its survival is not a mere accident of history but a profound testament to human ingenuity, evolving purpose, and an unbreakable cultural thread. This isn't just the story of bricks and mortar; it's the story of how a structure built to safeguard wisdom became, itself, a symbol of resilience, transforming from a sacred Buddhist repository into a must-visit travel hotspot and a powerful anchor for China's cultural tourism.
Today, the pagoda is the centerpiece of a vibrant urban park, surrounded by the dancing fountains of the North Square, bustling markets selling replica Tang Dynasty crafts, and a constant stream of visitors from across the globe. Its image is emblazoned on postcards, keychains, and travel brochures. But to understand its survival, we must look past the modern tourist trappings and into its foundational purpose.
The pagoda was born from a singular, powerful mission: to protect. In 652 AD, the revered monk Xuanzang, after his epic 17-year journey to India, returned to Chang'an (modern-day Xi’an) with a treasure trove of Buddhist scriptures, relics, and statues. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty sanctioned the construction of this pagoda within the grounds of the Ci'en Temple specifically to house these sacred items. Xuanzang himself oversaw the initial five-story, earth-and-brick construction.
Its simple, square-based, tapered form was a deliberate architectural choice. Unlike later, more ornamental pagodas, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda prioritized structural integrity. Its thick walls and solid core were designed for stability, not just beauty. This robust design faced its first major test barely half a century later. The original structure, weakened over time, was rebuilt and fortified into a ten-story pagoda. Yet, wars and turmoil in the following centuries took their toll, and it was eventually reduced to the seven stories we see today. Each reconstruction, however, reinforced the core, adhering to the original resilient silhouette. The pagoda’s survival through these early centuries was a cycle of damage and devout restoration, its spiritual significance ensuring it was always worth saving.
Several key factors converged to make the Big Wild Goose Pagoda a survivor while so much of ancient Chang'an faded into history.
The pagoda is physically made of brick, but it is spiritually built from the story of Xuanzang. His journey, a real-life epic of perseverance and scholarship, immortalized in the classic Journey to the West, is inextricably linked to the structure. The pagoda is not just a building; it is the trophy of his quest, the physical proof of his labor. This narrative gave it a cultural importance that transcended any single dynasty or religious trend. Even when Buddhism faced periods of suppression, the pagoda’s identity as a monument to scholarly pursuit and cultural exchange offered it a layer of protection. It became a symbol of a glorious Tang Dynasty open to the world, a narrative that every subsequent regime, from the Ming to the Qing and beyond, could appreciate and co-opt.
The Tang builders were master engineers. The pagoda’s survival through numerous seismic events, including the devastating 1556 Shaanxi earthquake—the deadliest in recorded history—is a marvel. Its secret lies in its construction. The compact, pyramidal form lowers the center of gravity. The ancient brick-laying techniques, using a special mortar, allowed for a degree of flexibility. Perhaps most importantly, its deep foundation—reportedly a massive, pounded-earth mound—absorbs and disperses seismic energy. It is a masterpiece of passive seismic design, engineered centuries before the science was formally understood. Each earthquake it weathered added to its legend, proving its strength not just metaphorically, but literally.
The pagoda’s ability to adapt its purpose is central to its longevity. Initially, it was a functional library and reliquary. As the centuries passed, it became a fengshui landmark, a navigational beacon on the Silk Road, and a poetic muse for scholars. In the Ming Dynasty, the entire structure was encased in a thicker layer of bricks, a renovation that literally armored it for the future. In the modern era, especially after its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor," its purpose evolved again. It is now a premier cultural tourist attraction, an economic asset, and a point of national pride. This continuous reinvention—from holy site to heritage site—guaranteed its relevance and, consequently, the resources and will needed for its preservation.
The pagoda’s survival into the 21st century is now fueled by the global tourism industry. Its management brilliantly bridges the ancient and the contemporary.
Adjacent to the pagoda, the Tang Paradise (Datang Furongyuan) theme park is a direct tourism offshoot capitalizing on the pagoda’s aura. This large-scale cultural park recreates the splendor of the Tang Dynasty with palaces, gardens, and nightly spectaculars. While a modern creation, it roots the visitor’s experience in the historical context the pagoda represents. The pagoda provides the authentic centerpiece, while the theme park offers immersive entertainment, together creating a full-day "Tang Dynasty experience" that drives massive visitor numbers and funds ongoing conservation efforts.
The pagoda’s image is everywhere. It’s the backdrop for historical dramas, the subject of viral travel vlogs, and a coveted check-in location on social media. This digital life is a new form of survival. Nighttime light shows project Tang poetry onto its façade, making ancient text a visual spectacle. The surrounding squares host free public performances, embedding the monument in daily contemporary life. The sale of周边 (zhōubiān, peripherals)—from intricate pagoda models to ice cream shaped like its tiers—turns cultural appreciation into tangible economic support for preservation.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda stands today not as a frozen relic, but as a living chronicle. It survived the chaos of history because it was built with foresight, because it housed a story too good to lose, and because it possessed a physical toughness that matched its cultural weight. Now, as the flash of camera phones illuminates its time-worn bricks, it enters a new chapter. Its survival is no longer just about resisting earthquakes and wars, but about remaining relevant in the fast-paced world of global travel and digital culture. By embracing its role as both a sacred monument and a shared cultural treasure, it ensures that for centuries to come, travelers will still look up at its serene silhouette and marvel at the journey—both Xuanzang’s and its own—that allowed it to endure.
Copyright Statement:
Author: Xian Travel
Link: https://xiantravel.github.io/travel-blog/how-the-big-wild-goose-pagoda-survived-centuries.htm
Source: Xian Travel
The copyright of this article belongs to the author. Reproduction is not allowed without permission.