The Great White Pagoda (), or Sarira Stupa of Tayuan Temple, is a brick
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
located at
Mount Wutai
Mount Wutai, also known by its Chinese name Wutaishan and as is a sacred Buddhist site at the headwaters of the Qingshui in Shanxi Province, China. Its central area is surrounded by a cluster of flat-topped peaks roughly corresponding to the c ...
of Wutai County,
Shanxi
Shanxi (; ; formerly romanised as Shansi) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the North China region. The capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-lev ...
province,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
.
History
The stupa was constructed during the
Wanli reign of the
Ming dynasty (1368–1644
AD), as recorded on a stone tablet there composed by the high minister
Zhang Juzheng (1525–1582).
[China.org.cn]
Sarira Dagoba at Tayuan Temple in Wutai of Shanxi Province
Retrieved on 2008-06-21.
Architectural features
The Sarira Stupa, named after the
Sanskrit word ''
sarira'' meaning 'Buddhist relic', sits on a square base with an archetypal
sumeru pedestal. It is roughly 50 m (164 ft) tall, constructed of brick with a
lime coating on the outside that gives its white color. The main upper frame of the stupa is shaped as an inverted bowl. The canopy of the stupa sits atop a steeple with thirteen tiers. The canopy and bead crowning the top are all made of gilded copper. The canopy also supports 252 small bells.
Notes
External links
China.org.cn
Buildings and structures in Shanxi
Stupas in China
Ming dynasty architecture
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