Yusu Stone Pagoda

Yusu Stone Pagoda

The Yusu Stone Pagoda is a cultural relic protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

The Stone Pagoda

The Stone Pagoda (Second Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Northern Qi Dynasty

Location: On Guolao Peak, west of Yangjiagou Village, 40 kilometers northwest of Yusu County.

According to legend, this is the place where the Taoist immortal Zhang Guolao attained enlightenment, hence the name Guolao Peak. At the peak there is a stone trough, and halfway up the mountain there is a depression about 10 meters in diameter, known as "Donkey Rolling."

The stone pagoda is built on top of the peak. The pagoda body is square-shaped, with a total height of 3.53 meters. It was carved from a single piece of wheat-vein stone. The middle section is 10 centimeters thick, and the top is slightly flat. The pagoda is divided into four tiers, with niches carved on all four sides of each tier. Inside the niches are sculptures of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and disciples (from top to bottom, north-south orientation: three, three, two, five figures respectively; east-west orientation: three, three, three, five figures respectively). Except for attendants, all figures are placed on platforms. Around the pagoda there are three large stones. The one to the northwest is 2 meters high and 2.5 meters long, with the characters "Seng Huang" (Monk Emperor) inscribed on one side, and "Erected on the fourth month, State Day, of the third year of the Tian Tong era of the Great Qi" inscribed on another side. It is a precious physical artifact for studying the carving and architectural art of the Northern Qi Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protected Sites in Shanxi Province