Talk:Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

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Please consider adding this as an external link. It contains some interesting info that your readers need to know. Thanks. 202.82.54.186 10:14, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

Wild Goose Pagoda Autographshttp://www.china-travel-golden-route.com/goose_pagoda.html Having your autograph at the Wild Goose Pagoda denotes you have obtained a Jinshi Degree. Why?

You can’t visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda without knowing this.

A Jinshi Degree in Tang Dynasty – somewhat like a Doctorate Degree of nowadays Ancient Chinese referred two things in life to be the happiest. Number one was autographing at the Wild Goose Pagoda, number two was getting married.

It was obvious that a wedding was something happy. What about autographing? Why was it even on top of a wedding? Well, we need to know ancient Chinese culture a bit in depth.

Scholars in ancient China had the highest social ranking. Being a government officer serving the king directly was something every scholar looking forward to. That proved their ability and brought fame and wealth to their family.

Sitting for examinations was the only way of achieving what they wanted. Scholars had to pass examinations at their home town before sitting the provincial examination. They had to pass in both before qualifying as a candidate for the imperial examination.

The imperial examination was held once every three years in the capital city. Those who got a pass will be crowned a Jinshi Degree. It was an extremely difficult process. Tens of thousands of scholars from all over the country had only a quota of less than 100 to be given the Jinshi Degree. Once failed, they’ll have to wait for three years and few people got a pass at their first attempt. Those who obtained a Jinshi Degree before 30 were extremely outstanding.

Bai Juyi, the famous Tang poet, got a pass at his first attempt at the age of 27. He proudly wrote this at the Wild Goose Pagoda: “At the autograph place of Wild Goose Pagoda, I am the youngest among 17".

Autographing at the Wild Goose Pagoda The customs of Qu River Banquet followed by autographing at the Wild Goose Pagoda were extremely popular in Tang Dynasty. Something the new Jinshis felt extremely proud of doing and something extremely admired by anybody.

At the banquet on board of Qu River, a lot of senior government officers came to look for son-in-law candidates. In many cases, young and handsome Jinshis being picked will soon have their weddings. The two happiest things in life hence happened at similar time.

Jinshis came do their autographs when they started their imperial career. Later in their life, they might become a prime minister or a commander general. Their autographs at the Wild Goose Pagoda will become extremely valuable and would be framed.

Autographing at the Wild Goose Pagoda hence had an extended meaning of obtaining a Jinshi Degree, something that every Tang Dynasty scholar longing for.

Unfortunately, due to human and natural disasters, most of the Tang Dynasty autographs were damaged. What we can see nowadays are from Ming and Qing Dynasty.

Anna Yuen (Hong Kong) 10:07, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

Not Top-importance?
I don't see how this can be Top-importance. It is the only pagoda in the category and so would have to be the most important pagoda in the history of China. Since the article doesn't claim anything like that I will bump it down to Mid-importance. If you disagree, leave a note on my talk page. --Slashem (talk) 18:05, 21 April 2008 (UTC)