Pagoda of light : the social value of Wenguang Pagoda in Mianchen Town, Shantau City, Guangdong Province, China

Abstract

Wenguang Pagoda, whose name loosely translated as the Pagoda of Light (文光塔), is a major landmark in Mianchen Town (棉城), Shantau City, Guangdong, China. Built in the Sung dynasty and of 7 storeys heigh, it was until the 1980s the tallest structure in the town. Today, it is surrounded by modern development, and the pagoda is set in a reconstructed public garden, and in its vicinity is a cultural museum (which has nothing to do with the pagoda), a cinema and many new and upcoming residential buildings from 8 to 30storeys. The historic setting of the pagoda is no more due to modern development, and as such, the pagoda has been transformed from its original role as a religion-related structure to a new role as an iconic landmark for a city. Because of this, the younger generations, including the author (who is a native of the town), find it difficult to relate to its historical and architectural significance. However, the pagoda is still recognized by the townspeople as something special, as it provides a picturesque backdrop for many social and cultural activities in front and outside the pagoda. This situation of Wenguang Pagoda has led the author to think that if the history and architecture of the pagoda seem to have disconnected with the local people, then why does the people still have a strong sense of attachment to the pagoda? The author is closely connected with Wenguang Pagoda through her father, who was born and raised in the Mianchen Town, where the pagoda is located. As a child, the author visited the town many times, and in every visit, she felt that there was something special about the pagoda, but was unable to articulate this feeling. Now that the author has almost completed the courses in the MSc(Conservation) programme at The University of Hong Kong, she realizes that the feeling is perhaps related to the concept of “social value” of a heritage place. This realization is what prompted the author to choose Wenguang Pagoda as the dissertation topic to understand the social value of this place, in order to articulate the special feeling of Wenguang Pagoda that she has always possessed for this special place.