The Guangde Temple, originally known as
Yunju Temple, is a famous old temple dating back to the Han (206BC-AD220)-Tang
(618-907) period. Rebuilt between 1450 and 1457 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644),
the temple is now called Guangde Temple. Today, only the temple's main hall
remains with the Duobao Pagoda located in the back. Built during the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911), the hall has a flush gable roof with single-layered eaves.
The Duobao Pagoda was built between 1494 and 1496 on a brick structure imitating
a wooden one. The 17-meter-high pagoda has an octagonal ground floor with an
arched door on each of its four sides. Above the door in the center hangs a
stone horizontal tablet inscribed with four Chinese characters that read: Duo
Bao Buddhist Pagoda.
Through the north door and up the spiraling
steps is the pagoda's bed with five small pagodas located above. The middle
pagoda is shaped like a trumpet, hence its name, the Trumpet Pagoda. The Trumpet
Pagoda sits on an octagonal Sumeru base carved with four layers of lotus petals.
It is covered with a copper canopy that has right small iron bells hanging
beneath it. The bells chime as the wind blows, recalling the great charms of the
1,000-year-old temple. The Trumpet Pagoda is surrounded by four pavilion-like
pagodas. Each of the hexagonal pagodas has three stories and a double-eaved,
pyramidal roof. Niches were carved in the walls to house Buddha statues.
Altogether there are 48 Buddha statues -- hence the name, Duobao Buddhist Pagoda
(the pagoda of many Buddhas). Built in a simple and elegant fashion, the pagoda,
is a representative work of all Buddhist pagodas.