The oldest surviving landmark of Kaifeng is the “Iron” Pagoda built in the 11th century. It is actually constructed of glazed bricks that have a rusty hue. According to historical records, the pagoda was built to hold Buddhist relics; its surface bricks were carved with over 50 Buddhist patterns. It is said that the pagoda originally reached over 100 meters, but after centuries of silt deposits, it now stands at only 55 meters. It is still unknown how deeply underground the tower actually goes.
History on Every Corner
The Lord Bao Memorial Temple located in Baohe Park just southwest of the city center was built in 1066 in memory of Bao Zheng, a Song Dynasty official that has been idolized in folk literature and on the stage as a model of honesty and justice. The memorial covers one hectare, and is typical of Song architecture. Among its exhibits are some historic documents that recorded Bao Zheng’s life.
In nearby Longting Park there is a long dam which divides a lake in half – the Pan Family and the Yang Family lakes. Strangely enough, the Yang Family Lake is clear, while the other is turbid, though the two lakes are connected and fed by the same source of water.
The Pan and Yang were renowned dynastic families of the Song Dynasty. The patriarch of the Pan clan was a treacherous prime minister, while the Yang family was made up of loyal military officers who fought heroically against foreign invaders that constantly encroached on Song territory. Locals so named the two bodies of waters as an expression of their sense of justice. The Yang Family Mansion that stands on the banks of its lakeside is a reproduction built according to the Song architectural records for houses that reflect the highest military official status.
The main building of Longting Park, the Dragon Pavilion, was constructed in the 17th century. The park is now an imperial-style botanical garden girdled by a river on three sides. It holds an annual chrysanthemum show in October, which the locals have made a modern tradition.
Delicate Handicrafts and Whimsical Games
As a large urban center, Kaifeng developed many of its own folk handicrafts, including the New Year woodblock print, embroidery and porcelain.
It is a Chinese tradition that people buy woodblock prints to adorn their homes for the festive season. The Kaifeng genre has a history of many centuries behind it and still keeps its old process of hand engraving and printing. The prints express good wishes for a new year through exaggerated images and brilliant color. The Kaifeng New Year Woodblock Print has been included in China’s list of national intangible cultural heritage items.
Embroidery in Kaifeng originated over 1,700 years ago during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.) and flourished during the Northern Song Dynasty (1127 -1279) when an institution named Wenxiuyuan was established to produce embroidered clothes and other ornaments for emperors, royal family members and high-ranking officials. Richly colored fabrics are exquisitely stitched. Each piece of embroidery work is so refined and complex that it sometimes requires a single thread to be divided into scores of branches.
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