Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda also known as Dayanta is one of Xians most iconic landmarks Built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty under the supervision of the famous Buddhist monk Xuanzang this sevenstory pagoda was originally constructed to house the Buddhist scriptures sutras and figurines that Xuanzang brought back from his epic 17year journey to India The pagoda stands at 64 meters tall and is a masterpiece of Chinese brick pagoda architecture Its simple yet elegant design reflects the influence of Indian Buddhist stupa architecture adapted to Chinese aesthetics The pagoda is located within the Dacien Temple complex which was originally built in 648 AD by Emperor Gaozong of Tang in memory of his mother The name Big Wild Goose Pagoda comes from a Buddhist legend about a group of hungry monks who prayed for food when a flock of wild geese flew overhead and one fell to the ground providing them with sustenance Over the centuries the pagoda has survived earthquakes and wars though it has been repaired and renovated several times most notably during the Ming Dynasty Today it serves not only as a religious site but also as a cultural symbol of Xian and Chinas rich Buddhist heritage