Linhuang Tower

Linhuang Tower

Linhuang Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Linhuang Tower, also known as the Shakyamuni Dharma Relic Stupa or the Ashoka Pagoda, is located east of Daxiaobu Village, Daxiaobu Township, Xiaoyi City. In 2004, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Shanxi Province. The tower was originally built in the third year of the Renshou era during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, and underwent major renovations in the fifth year of the Qingli era of the Song Dynasty, the first year of the Yuantong era of the Yuan Dynasty, the ninth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, and the tenth year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty. The current structure is a remnant of the Qing Dynasty reconstruction. Over time, the tower deteriorated, developing wall cracks and tilting. In 2004, the Xiaoyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government carried out repair and reinforcement work to protect this historical and cultural heritage, following the principle of “not changing the original appearance.”

Linhuang Tower stands 18 meters tall, faces south, and has an octagonal floor plan. It is an eight-story solid brick pagoda in the pavilion style. After renovation, the tower was raised by 3 meters, and the base was reconstructed with a new Sumeru pedestal. The original diameter of the first story was 5.72 meters, but this was altered due to later reinforcement efforts that added supportive structures, which compromised the tower’s original appearance. These were removed during restoration, reducing the diameter to 2.7 meters. The second story has a diameter of 2.21 meters, with each successive level narrowing until the top. The front of the first story features a false arched gate, flanked by an inscribed couplet: “Boundless rays of compassion swallow sun and moon; a period of Dharma rain nourishes heaven and earth.” Above it is an inset bluestone plaque inscribed with “Linhuang Tower,” and in the upper right corner is the inscription “Reconstructed on July 29, the tenth year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty.” The spandrel is carved with the “Bagua Diagram.” The second story features the carving “Shakyamuni Tathagata Dharma Relic Shrine” on the front, with the spandrel inscribed “Blessings Nourish All Beings” and “Mercy Reaches All Realms.” The third story’s spandrel is carved with “Imperial Rule Flourishes Far and Wide” and “The Imperial Realm Stands Eternal.” The fourth story’s spandrel is carved with “Dharma Wheel Turns Constantly” and “Buddha’s Light Grows Ever Brighter.” The first and second stories each have suspended lotus pillars beneath the corner brackets.

The main structure of the tower uses wooden frames on each level. The body is built with blue bricks laid in running bond, interspersed occasionally with header bricks. The architrave is made of plain bricks. The first to fifth stories feature carved spring grass and orchid motifs inlaid into the brick façade, with the architrave consisting of two layers of bricks. The upper three stories do not have these motifs, and the architrave is a single layer of running bond bricks. Each level has carved brick brackets under the eaves, with single cantilevers and single upturned corners. Corner brackets are installed at each angle, but no horizontal bracket sets are used. The eaves are composed of corbelled bricks, carved elements, flying rafters, drip tiles, and water spouts, with inward-curving counter-corbels above. The eave corners are slightly upturned and fitted with glazed animal ornaments, while iron wind chimes hang from the third to eighth stories. The finial is a precious bead, and the top of the tower is covered in yellow glazed tiles featuring dragon, cloud, and scroll grass patterns.

The underground chamber of Linhuang Tower houses Buddhist relics, and the spectacular sight of the “relics emitting light” has amazed people throughout history. According to historical records: In the first year of the Jingyou era of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, an imperial decree bestowed a stone casket consisting of two layers — an inner gold coffin and an outer silver reliquary. The inner gold coffin measures two inches in length and one inch in width, containing a single relic the size of a soybean, originally white, housed within the silver reliquary, which is engraved with images of the Ten Great Disciples. In the tenth year of the Yongzheng era, when Abbot Liaochan oversaw the reconstruction of the tower, a relic was discovered on April 26 beneath the lotus stone of the tower. On May 22 of that same year, the tower foundation was rebuilt, and the relic was placed back beneath the lotus stone.

Research indicates that ancient relic stupas typically stored relics in special containers such as boxes, bowls, or bottles, often made of stone, bronze, or glass. More renowned and influential temples and stupas usually used multi-part gold and silver coffins or precious caskets, while simpler ones used pottery jars or porcelain bottles to house the relics. This shows that Linhuang Tower was once a highly prestigious and influential stupa.

During renovation work, a stone sutra pillar from the first year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty was discovered at the tower base. It bears an inscription of the “Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra” translated by imperial decree. This scripture was introduced to China during the height of Esoteric Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty and consists entirely of esoteric mantras. Esoteric Buddhism regarded it as one of its fundamental mantra scriptures, and it was specially engraved on the stone pillar to signify its sacred status.

Linhuang Tower combines the pavilion-style form of Chinese pagodas with the solid construction style of Indian stupas, making it an outstanding example of the fusion of the two traditions. It is one of the oldest surviving ancient structures in Xiaoyi City.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units