Leifeng Tower in 1919
This photograph of Leifeng Pagoda was taken in Hangzhou's West Lake District in 1919 by photographer Sidney David Gamble.
Leifeng Pagoda in 1919 Photo after restoration
Leifeng Pagoda, formerly known as the Imperial Princess Pagoda, also known as the Yellow Concubine Pagoda, the Princess Pagoda, and the Yellow Pi Pagoda in literature and folk, was originally a stupa (merit tower) built by Qian Li, the king of Wuyue in the fifth dynasty, and is located on the front Lei Peak of Jingci Temple on the south bank of West Lake in Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and the Baochu Pagoda on the Gem Mountain on the north bank confronts and echoes from afar.
On September 25, 1924, Leifeng Pagoda collapsed due to excessive excavation of tower bricks and shaking caused by piling in Wangzhuang near the tower site, and only the ruins remained.
On October 28 of the same year, Mr. Lu Xun wrote the famous article "On the Fall of Leifeng Pagoda":
I heard that the Leifeng Pagoda on Hangzhou's West Lake collapsed, but I didn't see it in person. But I have seen the Leifeng Pagoda that has not fallen. The tattered reflection is hidden between the lake and the mountains, and the setting sun shines on these four near places, which is "Thunder Peak Sunset", one of the ten scenery of West Lake. I have also seen the real scene of "Thunder Peak Sunset", and it is not good, I thought.
However, among all the names of West Lake sites, the earliest I know is this Leifeng Pagoda. My grandmother used to tell me that the White Snake Lady was pressed under this tower. A man named Xu Xian saved two snakes, one green and one white, and then the white snake turned into a woman to repay the favor and married Xu Xian; The green snake turned into a maid and followed. A monk, Fahai Zen Master, a righteous Zen master, saw Xu Xian with a demon qi on his face,—— anyone who asked a monster to be a wife had a demon qi on his face, but only extraordinary people could see it,—— so they hid him behind the throne of Jinshan Temple, and the white snake lady came to find a husband, so she "filled the golden mountain". My grandmother is much more interesting to say, probably from a poem called "The Legend of the Righteous Demon", but I haven't read this book, so I don't know if "Xu Xian" and "Fahai" are written like this. All in all, the White Snake Niangniang finally fell for Fahai's scheme and was put in a small bowl. The bowl was buried in the ground, and a tower of suppression was built on it, which was the Leifeng Tower. Since then, it seems that there are still many things, such as the "White Yuan Sacrifice Tower", but I have forgotten them now.
On October 25, 2002, Leifeng Pagoda was rebuilt on the original site and officially opened to the public after the completion of the reconstruction.
When the sun sets, the afterglow reflects the Leifeng Pagoda to form the famous Leifeng sunset landscape, which is one of the ten scenic spots of West Lake.
Leifeng Pagoda is also famous for its use in the legend "The Legend of the White Snake" as the place where Fahai suppressed the White Lady.
The current Leifeng Tower
Note: Black and white photos are original images, color photos are original after restoration and coloring.