Six Harmonies Pagoda, highly erected by the Qiantang River and to the south of
the West Lake, is a perfect symbol of brick-and-wood structure built in the ancient
China. It is first built in 970 AD in the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), in a way
to press down the evil of the river tidal bore in Qiantang River. The name "six harmonies"
comes from the six Buddhist ordinances, meaning "harmonies of the heaven, earth, east,
west, south and north".
The pagoda has fallen into ruins and gone through reconstruction many times. The original
pagoda is nine storyed with a light on the tip, serving as a navigation tower in the river.
The present tower was the restoration in 1156. Seen from outside, the tower, with a height
of 59.89 meters, have 13 stories while in fact only seven stories inside. The core of the present
pagoda was built with the bricks left over from the Southern Song dynasty. The upturned wooden
multi-eaves and wrapping structure were first built in the ending years of the Qing dynasty and
have been refurbished many times.
Commanding a spectacular view of the surging Qiantang River, the pagoda presents a quiet image
of age-old majesty. Looking out from the top of the pagoda, sightseers can see as far as the misty
horizon, enjoying an unforgettable, breathtaking experience.
The Six Harmonies Pagoda has been under the state protection since 1961 as a state-level cultural site.
