The Glass Tower of Fanshi

The Glass Tower of Fanshi

The Glass Tower of Fanshi is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Glass Tower of Fanshi

Era: Ming Dynasty

Location: Zhuangzi Village, Yantou Township, Fanshi County

Originally part of the architecture within the Grand Protective Nation Manjushri Temple, construction began in the 27th year of the Wanli reign (1599) and was completed in the 32nd year (1604). It is an octagonal, thirteen-story glass tower standing 32 meters tall, with a base diameter of 12 meters and a top diameter of 4 meters. The base is built of stone in a molded Sumeru pedestal style, adorned with upturned and downturned lotus petals. Inside the tower is a pavilion, and one can ascend via the inner tower passages to the sixth level. The exterior of the tower is entirely decorated with yellow, green, and blue three-color glazed tiles, predominantly in green. There are ten thousand glazed Buddha statues on the tower’s surface, hence it is also called the Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower, or “Buddha Statue Exquisite Colored Glaze Tower.”

On October 7, 2019, the Glass Tower of Fanshi was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Zhuangzi Village: Zhuangzi Village...   |   Detailed information about Zhuangzi Village ++

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units