Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda

Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda

The Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda (Fourth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Ming Dynasty

Address: Guchengying Village, Jinyuan Subdistrict, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City

The Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda is situated in the east of Guchengying Village, Jinyuan Subdistrict, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City. It was originally part of the Hui Ming Temple complex. Historical records from the 1551 Taiyuan Prefecture Records (Ming Dynasty, 30th year of the Jiajing reign) indicate that it was first constructed in the 2nd year of the Renshou era of the Sui Dynasty (602 AD) as part of the Hui Ming Temple within the ancient Jinyang city. The pagoda was repeatedly built and destroyed over time. In the 18th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1385 AD), Hui Ming Temple and the Ashoka Pagoda were rebuilt on the original site, transforming the original nine-story brick pagoda into a stupa-style structure. Today, Hui Ming Temple no longer exists, and only the Ashoka Pagoda remains, covering an area of 196 square meters.

The Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda is a single-story brick stupa, standing approximately 25 meters tall. The base is a square stone platform with sides measuring 13.8 meters. Above this sits a square pyramidal brick platform base formed by corbeling, standing 1.65 meters high. The main body of the pagoda is a circular, inverted-bowl shape, topped with thirteen layers of spoked wheels and crowned with a glazed finial umbrella and precious top.

The Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda reflects the architectural characteristics of stupa design during the Ming Dynasty and holds significant historical value.

In May 2013, the Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda was designated as part of the Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Guchengying Village: Guchengying Village…… Detailed information about Guchengying Village++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units