Taiping Xingguo Stone Scripture Pillar

Taiping Xingguo Stone Scripture Pillar

The Taiping Xingguo Stone Scripture Pillar was an auxiliary structure of the Taiping Xingguo Chan Temple, built in the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty (979 AD). Originally, there was a pair of these pillars, which were placed in front of the temple gate and constructed in the second year of the Xining era (–). On June 1, 2000, they were relocated to the southern side of the middle section of Yanling Middle Road. The pillar stands 4.05 meters tall and is 2.24 meters wide, consisting of four layers of Sumeru pedestal carved with reliefs of eight divine warriors, sacred lotus flowers, eight Buddha statues, upward-facing lotus Sumeru mountains, and ocean waves, as well as an octagonal pillar inscribed with the Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra, a treasure canopy adorned with intertwined peony designs, stone carvings of bracket arms, and an umbrella-shaped precious finial. The carving techniques are solemn and rustic, with full-bodied imagery, reflecting the artistic style of Song Dynasty stone carvings. Currently, one pillar remains intact, while only the lower three layers of the Sumeru pedestal survive from the other.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units