Puli Temple Pagoda

Puli Temple Pagoda

Puli Temple Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Puli Temple Pagoda

Puli Temple Pagoda, also known as the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda, is located in the northeastern part of Lincheng County’s urban area. According to an inscription on the stele commemorating the pagoda’s reconstruction: “It was built in the third year of the Huangyou era of the Song Dynasty (1051 AD), and was renovated in the 24th year of the Jiajing era and the fourth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty.” It has a history of over 900 years. It is the second best-preserved ancient pagoda in our city and a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

The pagoda faces south and stands to the north. Its base brick wall is carved with 974 small Buddha statues, and there are 40 Buddha statues carved on the inner surrounding walls, hence it is also called the Thousand Buddhas Pagoda or the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda. Inside the pagoda there is a well where the sarira (Buddhist relic) of the monk Zhiyun was buried, so it is also known as the Sarira Pagoda. The pagoda is situated on a southern hill north of the town, built along the slope and hill. The base is a 10-meter-high square stone platform, 28 meters long from north to south and 23 meters wide from east to west. The body of the pagoda is square, built of bricks, standing 33 meters tall with nine levels and eight eaves. It features large flying eaves and bracket sets, and is topped with a metal spire. Each level originally had a delicate iron bell hanging at each corner. In the evening breeze, the bells would chime softly in the distance, making the “Evening Bell of Puli” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Lincheng.

In 1959, the pagoda was struck by lightning, causing the top to tilt slightly to the east. In 1981, the state allocated funds to renovate the body of the pagoda. In 1991, the eastern stone wall of the pagoda base was washed away by heavy rain, and the provincial cultural relics bureau allocated funds for emergency repairs.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units