The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-known cultural landmark located in the city of Xi’an, China. It was built during the Tang Dynasty, one of China’s most prosperous and influential periods in history. The construction of the pagoda was initiated by the Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who had traveled to India to study Buddhism and brought back a vast collection of Buddhist scriptures to China.
Xuanzang’s journey to India took place in the early 7th century, but the construction of the pagoda did not begin until the late 7th century. The original structure was built between 652 and 654, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, it was a five-story pagoda made of brick and wood, standing at a height of around 60 meters.
The original pagoda was destroyed and rebuilt several times due to natural disasters and wars. The current structure, which stands at a height of 64.5 meters and has seven stories, was completed in 704 AD during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. The new pagoda was built with a more durable material, including white marble bricks, and was surrounded by a courtyard and other supporting buildings.
Over the centuries, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda has undergone several renovations and restorations. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was renovated and expanded, and in the 20th century, it underwent a major restoration in the 1960s. Today, the pagoda is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Xi’an and is considered a symbol of Chinese Buddhism and architecture.