Jining Prince Ashoka Pagoda (Wenshang Brick Pagoda)

Jining Prince Ashoka Pagoda (Wenshang Brick Pagoda)

The Jining Prince Ashoka Pagoda (Wenshang Brick Pagoda) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Prince Ashoka Pagoda is situated within Baixiang Temple in the northwest corner of Wenshang County. It was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty (1112 AD) as an octagonal, thirteen-story pavilion-style building, standing 45.5 meters high. The pagoda is constructed of bricks in an octagonal, thirteen-story pavilion form. Its top is designed in the shape of a gourd with a lotus. The eastern, western, and southern sides of the ground floor each have Buddhist niches, and each side of the outer eaves is adorned with four bracket sets carved with thin, square ascending patterns. The fourth level of the pagoda eaves features lotus pedestal carvings on all eight sides. The spire is made from yellow glazed tiles, shining golden and radiant, earning it the local nickname “Golden Pagoda.”

Wenshang has a long history. The ancient Prince Ashoka Pagoda was originally called Baixiang Temple Pagoda, named after Baixiang Temple. Baixiang Temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty, originally named Zhao Temple, covering an area of 25 mu. It was rebuilt in the fifth year of the Xianping era of the Northern Song Dynasty and renamed Baixiang Temple. Due to years of neglect, it was destroyed in 1946. In 1993, when Wenshang County renovated the pagoda, 141 rare cultural relics including Buddha's "sarira," the Bodhisattva Holding the True Body, and silver bodhisattvas were discovered in the pagoda’s underground palace, revealing the pagoda’s name as the “Prince Ashoka Pagoda.” Later, the Wenshang County People's Government reconstructed Baixiang Temple to enshrine these Buddhist relics. After two years of construction, the temple complex was completed, including the restored Prince Ashoka Pagoda, the Offering Hall, the Pagoda Palace, corridors, underground passages, and gardens. The temple also houses eighteen Arhats recast with donations from Ms. Li Yumei of the United States. These statues are independently carved from bluestone, each weighing approximately 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms, featuring unique designs and majestic appearances.

Known historically as Zhongdu, it is one of the cradles of the splendid culture of the Chinese nation. Sites of fine stone culture, Beixin culture, Dawenkou culture, Longshan culture, and Yueshi culture are all found within its territory, forming a complete prehistoric cultural sequence in the Yellow River basin. Historical records indicate that Confucius, the great thinker and educator, once served as the magistrate of Zhongdu here. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Wenshang was already a sacred Buddhist site.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units