The first question we had on arrival at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was "how did it get its name?" Here is the answer we received:During his long journey to India to study, the famed Buddhist scholar and monk Xuan Zang became discouraged. He was tired and hungry, and thinking seriously of leaving his studies early to return to China. A large goose fell out of the sky at his feet, and Xuan Zang prepared to kill and eat it, despite the Buddhist prohibition against meat-eating. However, he realized what he was doing and stopped himself. A good thing, because the goose turned out to be Buddha in disguise, coming to encourage his disciple to continue his journey.
When Xuan Zang returned to China about 650 CE, the monks at the Da Ci’en temple wanted him to become their leader and they built a 5 story high pagoda to be his library and working area. It was named the Wild Goose Pagoda to memorialize the story. It acquired the additional adjective when another, small pagoda also named in honor of Xuan Zang’s encounter with Buddha was built in another Xi’an temple in 709 CE.
The original pagoda was damaged and replaced with another, larger one in the early 8th century CE. Today’s seven-story version is the third pagoda to be built on the site.
The temple continues to attract followers of the Buddha today, and is one of the most active shrines to Buddha in China. While we were there, we saw many people coming to make an offering of flowers, incense or fruit to one of the three figures of Buddha on display there. The courtyard in front of the pagoda contains several smaller shrines. As it is still an active temple, many of its nearly 2,000 rooms are not open to visitors.
Although we did not do it, you can (for an additional 10RMB) climb to the top of the pagoda. In addition to a birds’ eye view of the temple and city, you can also see the poems and inscriptions left there in years past by students who completed their examinations and entered into Buddha’s service.
Across the street from the entrance to the temple is a large open square containing a statute of Xuan Zang on his return from India. In the early mornings, Xi’an residents will come to perform tai-chi under his watchful eye.
Admission: 20 RMB (+10RMB to climb the tower)
Opening Hours: 8:30 – 6:00