Wenbi Pagoda in Jianshui County, Honghe
Chinese Name:建水文笔塔
English Name: Wenbi Pagoda in Jianshui County, Honghe
The Wenbita Tower is located on the summit of BaiFo Mountain, about 4 kilometers south of Jianshui County in Yunnan Province. It was constructed in 1828 during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and is a uniquely designed feng shui tower.
Geographic Location and Architectural Features
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Location: The tower stands on the top of BaiFo Mountain, approximately 4 kilometers south of Jianshui County.
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Architectural Features: Standing at 31.4 meters tall, the tower has a base circumference of 31.4 meters, matching the value of pi (3.14). It is built from bluestone and is a solid, eight-sided structure. The lower part is square and octagonal, the middle section is square, and the top is flat, tapering gradually upward to resemble the tip of a giant pen. The overall design looks like a massive writing brush piercing the sky.
Historical and Cultural Significance
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Purpose of Construction: As a feng shui tower, Wenbita was built alongside the now-collapsed Tianzhu Tower as a symbol of Jianshui’s cultural landscape. Its construction aimed to promote education and literature (“heavy on culture, light on warfare”) and to reduce local conflicts. It also reflects the philosophy of “respecting Confucianism and integrating Buddhism.”
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Cultural Value: Known as “a miracle in the history of Chinese tower construction,” the tower’s design and philosophy are unique nationwide.
Current Status and Protection
Wenbita was designated as a key provincial-level cultural heritage site in Yunnan in 1993 and is currently open to the public for free.
With its distinctive architecture and rich cultural heritage, the Wenbita Tower has become an important historical and cultural landmark in Jianshui, attracting many visitors.
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