In Jiangnan, every city with a history of more than 3,500 years, even towns, will have a pagoda to protect the city.
Facing the square tower half-way into the city of Yushan, it has experienced more than 800 years of storms, natural disasters and man-made disasters. After several wars, it still stands proudly, and its aura is always there, protecting Changshu, which is the symbol of this historical and cultural city.
Xiaofu Temple Tower is also the most familiar square tower in Changshu. There are many high-rise buildings on Fangta Street, and there are many merchants imitating the Song Dynasty on the edge of Fangta Garden, which is bustling, while Fangta stands quietly and watches fireworks.
The square tower was built in the fourth year of Jianyan in the Southern Song Dynasty (1 130). At that time, a monk suggested that "the residence of Zi Yi is high on the right and low on the left, and the distinction between guest and host is lost. Suitable for the left corner of the black dragon to make a floating map to win. " Li Lu, the county magistrate, said that he was good at it and ordered the towers to be built one by one. After several reconstructions in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. During Xianfeng period of Qing Dynasty, the temple was destroyed and the pagoda survived. Although the square tower was built in the Song Dynasty, it still follows the shape of the square pavilion-style wooden tower in the Tang Dynasty, but it largely retains the charm of the Song Dynasty and still stands tall after wars and disasters.
On the square at the entrance to the East Gate, there is a stone building with the inscription "Reflecting the Marine Danger" on it, and five intermittent mountain gates with the plaque of "Fangta Garden" hanging on them, with white walls, black tiles and black columns, which is very dignified and clear. There is also a "tail" ornament shaped like a fish-shaped dragon on the roof, which is a typical feature of architecture in Song Dynasty.
Before entering the door, the first thing that occupies the line of sight is the crystal-clear square tower, which cannot be ignored.
Towers in other places are generally built in temples, just like the Wild Goose Pagoda in Hongzhi and the Leifeng Pagoda in Jinshan Temple. It is inevitable that this square tower will be monotonous when it suddenly stands here, so a new classical garden was built on the ruins of the Song Dynasty. Because of this tower, the garden is named "Fangta Garden".
Because the square tower was built in the Song Dynasty, the garden buildings in the tower were all built in imitation of the square tower in the Song Dynasty. It is not only magnificent, but also has the charm of the royal garden. It also adopts the winding path of Jiangnan garden, with winding paths leading to a secluded place, verandahs and waterside pavilions, rocks and flowers complement each other.
The square tower, with a total height of 67.58 meters, is the commanding height of Changshu ancient city, an early feng shui tower in China, an outstanding example of the coordination between urban planning, construction and environment in ancient China, and a rare one in the south of the Yangtze River.
The square tower is a square, square square, hence the name "square tower". Most of the towers before the Tang Dynasty were square towers, and most of the towers after the Song Dynasty were hexagonal or octagonal, and the standard of square towers was relatively rare.
The whole tower is handsome and tall, with sloping wings and bronze bells hanging. The top of the tower is like the helmet of an ancient warrior, with a phase wheel, an exposed disk and a four-corner chain. The tower pole points directly at the sky and looks very majestic.
Qu You, one of the ten outstanding poets in Qinchuan in Ming Dynasty, praised the square pagoda in his poem "Shadow of Lindong Tower": the outlined floating atmosphere, the peak of the pen, and the town moat. The nine-story building is towering, exquisite in all directions, and the sun is shining high. There are mountains in the northwest and water looming in the southeast. Bookstores are full of stars, and you will meet heroes.
The wooden components and tower body system of the square tower still retain the architectural style and construction characteristics of the Song Dynasty, which provides an example for revealing the evolution and development of the corner beam structure of ancient buildings in the south of the Yangtze River, that is, the gradual development from gentle rise to towering.
The first floor of the tower is dedicated to Guanyin with a thousand hands. Because the height of the tower is limited, this statue of Golden Guanyin is not high. The tower bell is tied to the eaves of each floor. When the wind rings, it jingles, which is very pleasant. There are escalators on each floor to climb to the top floor, overlooking the city scenery of Changshu, smelling the ancient pagoda wind chimes and thinking about eternal love. Fangta wind chime is one of the eighteen scenic spots in Yushan.
When you arrive at the Fangta Garden, you will naturally climb the tower, although you can only get a glimpse of the ancient city. Because the gate is closed, you can only look out from the half-height fence. Of course, the line of sight is not very good, I can only imagine the scenery overlooking the cloister.
The stairs of the tower are a little cramped, and the arches of the cloister are closed. I simply climbed to the top floor in one breath, and Changshu, which is "half a mile into the city", is already half in sight.
The pagoda garden is the pen and ink of Changshu and Jiangnan, and the pagoda is a living historical specimen of Changshu. Looking from a distance, the Castle Peak and the Square Pagoda are facing each other, silently telling the old city years under time.
The famous scenery of Fangta Garden is "Tower Shadow Pool", where you can see the shadow of the tower in the water and become an excellent place to watch the tower. Thousands of ancient pagodas, century-old trees, antique buildings with red columns and white walls, colorful bridges and flowing water, blue sky and white clouds are reflected in the pool layer by layer, forming a moving picture with unique customs.
Under the towering square tower, there is an octagonal ancient well in front of the hot spring temple. Gujing well site is carved from a huge bluestone, with moss marks and mottled historical sites, which has a great sense of history. According to the investigation, the brick shape and material of the ancient well are the same as the tower foundation of the square tower, which proves that the ancient well and the square tower were built at the same time, that is, the ancient well in Song Dynasty.
There is also a tall and lush ancient ginkgo tree in the yard, which needs two people to hug each other. According to the records of Changshu, this ancient ginkgo tree is over 800 years old, and it is also an antique left over from the Song Dynasty. Square pagoda, ancient well and ancient ginkgo tree are collectively called "three treasures in the garden".
The pagoda garden in late autumn is undoubtedly the most beautiful. The ancient ginkgo tree in the north of the pool and the fiery ginkgo beside the cheap gallery are the most beautiful colors in the pagoda garden.
Sunlight passes through the unique Song Dynasty-style corridor and is known as the "Chiba Corridor". It has a unique charm. Through the red leaves of the flower window, the square tower in the distance is reflected on a bay of clear water, and it is also very beautiful to walk in the Yishui Song Gallery.
Drinking tea is a necessary lesson in Changshu, where the pace of life is slow. Walking in the Fangta Garden and the Hot Spring Pavilion next to the ancient well, drinking tea is basically local and full of fireworks.
Out of the Pagoda Garden, the surrounding high-rise buildings have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, but looking around, this South Pagoda, after more than 800 years of wind and rain, still stands as before, with momentum and stability completely above the surrounding midsummer.
The most prosperous and brilliant day of the year in Yangang Street adjacent to Fangta is when cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring. There are rows of cherry trees on one side of the moat. From the corner of the cherry tree, we can see the square tower. Its unique style and posture make this Song Tower more simple and dignified, beautiful and straight.
Walking on this street, the most beautiful thing should be the cherry blossom season in March. When the breeze blows, a sakura rain falls. If you come in the evening, you can also see the beautiful scenery of the square tower with cherry blossoms in full bloom in the colorful.
Changshu Fangta Garden keeps pace with the times and becomes a park for citizens to have a rest and play. The elegance of the Chinese tower in the garden is released from the bones and born according to the tower, no matter how elegant the surrounding environment and scenery are. I hope that the Pagoda, a treasure of China's ancient buildings, can be permanently guarded in Yucheng.