Stone Pagoda of Master Puzhao the Great Monk

Stone Pagoda of Master Puzhao the Great Monk

The Stone Pagoda of Master Puzhao the Great Monk is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Stone Pagoda of Master Puzhao the Great Monk: A stone-carved Lama-style pagoda. It is the memorial stupa of Master Fuguang Puzhao, the founding abbot. Built on February 15, 1229 (the 29th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty) by his dharma successor, Master Foxin Miaojue the Great Monk. The structure is entirely made of stone. It has five tiers and stands 4.9 meters tall in total. The base and eaves are octagonal, while the body is drum-shaped. The base is composed of a double-layered Sumeru pedestal. The lower Sumeru pedestal is mostly submerged below ground level, with only its octagonal upper member visible, which is carved with celestial musicians and flying apsaras. The waist section of the upper Sumeru pedestal features four niches, each containing a reclining lion, with peony flowers carved between the niches. The lower fillet is carved with a band of inverted lotuses, while the upper fillet and upper member feature two layers of single-petal upturned and downturned lotuses—eight in each layer. Each of the upper lotus petals holds a Buddha statue seated in the lotus position in a meditative pose. The body of the pagoda is 0.80 meters tall and contains two tiers of Buddha niches.

The upper tier niches are pointed arches, with seven niches positioned in all four directions. There is no niche to the north. The southern niche houses one Buddha and two disciples—the Buddha is seated cross-legged on a Sumeru pedestal, and the two disciples stand with hands clasped on lotus pedestals. The southeastern niche features a guardian deity; the southwestern niche, a heavenly king; the eastern niche, the Bodhisattva Manjushri riding an elephant; and the western niche, the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra riding a lion, holding a lotus shaped like a ruyi scepter. The northeastern and northwestern niches both contain a bodhisattva standing on a lotus pedestal, each holding a lotus. The lower tier niches are semi-circular arches, totaling sixteen. Each niche houses a seated Buddha, with the lower part of the niches decorated with engraved entwined peony and lotus motifs. Above the pagoda body is the pagoda neck, which features eight lion heads, each holding a flower rope in its mouth and wearing a colored ribbon around its neck. Above the neck are three tiers of octagonal, canopy-like eaves, with upturned corners. The first tier of eaves is 0.30 meters high, with its visible face carved with cloud scroll patterns, and beneath the eaves are eight flying apsaras without visible feet, two of which have double heads. The second tier eaves have floral patterns on their visible faces, and beneath them are four pointed arch niches on the pagoda wall—the northern niche houses a Buddha in a teaching pose; the southern niche, a Buddha in a demon-subduing pose; and the eastern and western niches, each a Buddha in a meditative pose. The third tier eaves are adorned with mountain-flower banana leaves, and beneath them, on the four main sides of the octagonal wall, each niche houses a Buddha. Above the eaves is the finial. The finial base is round and carved with lotus petals, upon which rests a vase-shaped spire.

The pagoda boasts elegant design, well-proportioned layers, and exquisitely detailed carvings with rich content. It is a relatively rare example of a Yuan Dynasty stone-carved Buddhist pagoda in Central China, and even across the country.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province