Wutaishan Tayuan Temple White Stupa

CHINA, Shanxi, Xinzhou

This stupa’s full name is Sakyamuni Buddha’s True Body Relic Stupa and it is locally known as the Great White Stupa. It is located within Tayuan Temple and is one of the symbols of Wutaishan. A Tibetan-style stone stupa was constructed in 1301 during the Yuan dynasty. Later in 1407 during the Ming dynasty, the Great White Stupa was constructed around it. Tayuan Temple was listed as a key Buddhist temple in the Han region of China in 1983.
The Tibetan-style stupa is constructed from brick and is 56.4 m high. The two-layer Sumeru base has multiple corners. Three alcoves are located on the south side. The alcove on the right contains a stele of Sakyamuni Buddha’s Footprint, while that on the left contains a stele recording the stupa’s repair during the rule of Emperor Kangxi (reigned 1661–1722) of the Qing dynasty. An inverted lotus supports the stupa body, which is in the shape of an inverted bowl. The spire consists of 13 stacked rings and the gilt-copper finial comprises a canopy and a jewel shaped like an inverted bowl. There are 252 wind chimes hanging from the canopy and other parts of the stupa.