Monk Gonggan’s Pagoda

Monk Gonggan’s Pagoda

Monk Gonggan’s Pagoda is located in Jinzhuping, southwest of Guling on Mount Lu. It was first built in the 46th year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty, which corresponds to 1618 AD, as the burial pagoda of Monk Gonggan. According to the Continued Chronicles of Mount Lu, Monk Gonggan founded Jiuzhi Temple in the 7th year of the Wanli era, and the temple gradually gained increasing popularity over time. After the monk’s passing, his disciples constructed this memorial pagoda for him. Monk Gonggan’s Pagoda consists of three tiers and is made up of eight granite blocks, standing 3.5 meters tall with a base diameter of 1.3 meters. The base features a hexagonal stone pedestal, atop which an inverted and upright lotus design supports a circular drum-shaped stone engraved with inscriptions such as “Stupa of the Venerable Monk Who Entered Nirvana.” In front of the pagoda lies a sacrificial terrace, with stone steles on the left and right sides whose inscriptions have become blurred over time. However, the railings surrounding the terrace are relatively well-preserved.

Location

Jinzhuping, Lushan District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province