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Located in the still active Buddhist Da Ci'en Temple complex, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty to store the collection of Buddhist materials taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang. Originally built to 60 meters with five stories, it was later extended an additional five stories at the ruling of Empress Wu Zetian in 704 CE. The massive earthquake of 1556 reduced the pagoda by three stories to its current height of 64.5 meters high with seven stories. It is made of brick. One of the later pages in this album will give the story of its name. The Da Ci'en Temple complex is south and east of the South Gate and is outside the city wall. The structure leans a few degrees to the west. It was hoped that the renovation in 1964 would stop it from leaning further.

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