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Preserved on the four stone doors in the base of the pagoda are exquisite engravings of the Tang. Two steles withthe Preface to the Sacred Religionwritten by the famous Tang calligrapher Chu Suiliang are set into the walls on the either side of the south door of the pagoda. On the forehead of the west stone gate, there are carved with architecture joss patterns and pictures, which are in compact layout, with vigorous and smooth lines, and are said to be the works of Yan Liben and Yu Chiyi, famous painters of the Tang Dynasty, so that these patterns and pictures become the significant material for Chinese ancient architecture research.
Since the Tang Dynasty, in the 14th, 15thand 16thdays of every lunar January there have been traditional temple fairs in the Grand Mercy and Favor Temple, called the Goose Pagoda Temple Fair. It also became a gathering place for intellectuals. Successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations always left their signature in the tower that is calledSuperscription of the Wild Goose Tower. In addition, many celebrities left poems or some other literature works.
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