Gao Gong Merit Pagoda

Gao Gong Merit Pagoda

Gao Gong Merit Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Wutai County.

Gao Gong Merit Pagoda is located in Zhulin Valley, 1,000 meters northeast of Foguang Village, Doucun Town, Wutai County. It faces south and has a hexagonal floor plan with a waist-binding Sumeru pedestal, covering an area of 9 square meters.

The pagoda stands 1.7 meters tall. Its front features a brick-carved niche containing brick carvings of Sakyamuni, Ananda, and Kasyapa. Above the niche is embedded a stone stele. The two adjacent sides also have brick-carved niches, one of which houses a guardian Vajra. The back features a brick-carved door, while the other three sides each have a stone stele embedded, inscribed with “Constructed on July 29, the fifth year of Huangtong era (1145).” The first layer's bracket arms are arranged in a particular pattern, with one bracket arm extending outward, and the inscriptions are finely carved and quite legible. The top part is damaged. According to local officials’ assessment, it was built in the fifth year of Huangtong (1145). (From "A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou")

Source: Xinzhou Website

Foguang Village: Foguang Village is located north of Doucun Town, about one kilometer from the town center. The village has 48 households, a total population of 172, and 9 Party members, covering a land area of 6,000 mu. The world cultural heritage site Foguang Temple is situated in Foguang Village. Originally built during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (471–499 AD), the temple is known as the “Buddhist Light of Asia” due to its long history and precious Buddhist relics. The main hall, also called the East Main Hall, was constructed in the 11th year of the Dazhong era of the Tang Dynasty, i.e., 857 AD. In terms of construction time, it is second only to the Nanchan Temple in Wutai County, which was built in the third year of the Jianzhong era (782 AD)... More details about Foguang Village ++