This Pagoda was originally built in 652 AD by the Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. He built it for a famous Buddhist monk called Xuanzang.
Xuanzang was dedicated to having a better understanding of the scriptures that had come to China from India and to find out more took a 17 year journey to India and back. 50 years later it was extended and made more robust by the Tang Empress Wu Zetian.
As we walked through the main gate, the first thing that struck me was the beauty of the buildings and I also noticed a bright yellow light coming from the building directly in front of me but farthest away. That building stands just in front of the Pagoda on a plinth with marble carvings not dissimilar to those found at the Forbidden City.Next, I heard some loud music. As we walked closer to the building and the Pagoda, I realised that what I thought was music being fed through outside speakers is actually live! The monks are in the temple and they are in full voice. The yellow light is actually a huge gold carving of the Buddha that shines bright through the centre window. What an experience, the sight and sounds that are engulfing us are like nothing I've ever seen or heard!Standing by the side of the 'no photography' sign, I sneaked a bit of video of this ceremony.Apparently, the monk Xuanzang that the pagoda was built for came back to Xi'an after his 17 year trip to teach all the other Buddhist Monks about what he had done and learnt whilst he was away.His story has been transcribed in to loads of different languages and in two of the buildings there are handwritten copies, (each one the size of a thick breeze-block) displayed in glass cabinets. This book is called 'Tripitaka'.Yup, that's right, the Buddhist master on the white horse in that classic series 'Monkey' was called Tripitaka. Turns out, Monkey is based loosely around real Chinese history!Anyway, In the same room, there are magnificent wooden carvings that cover all of the walls. They tell Xuanzang's story in pictures and are so full of minute detail they are quite breathtaking. In the next building, there are more translated copies of his story in yet more different languages, but this time the wall carvings are in bronze. Still, minute details have been captured and it makes me wonder how long they must've taken the craftsmen to build?We then walked out to the 'stone garden' where we admired original tablets of stone covered in chinese calligraphy that are centuries old.Amazingly, they weren't covered in any way and whilst I understand that they're already very old and have survived ok up until now, they are well weathered and fading so I was quite surprised to see them exposed to the elements and rubbing hands.As we walked towards the exit, we saw a new building being constructed. The wooden roof beams were already carved with exquisite Dragon heads at each end so I managed to get a close up shot. The construction techniques were clearly of the old ways, hammers, nails and hand saws. We didn't see a drill or electric saw anywhere.It was pleasing to see that even in these ultra modern Chinese ways, this type of building, even when newly built is done so in a traditional way.