Fantian Temple Sutra Pillars

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou

The sutra pillars are located in the eastern foothills of Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain). They were constructed in 965 by King Qian Chu (reigned 947–978) of Wuyue. The sutra pillars are the only remaining structures of Fantian Temple, and the tallest pair of pillars in the Zhejiang regions. They were listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The octagonal sutra pillars are similar in structure and appearance. They are made from limestone and have a height of 15.8 m. The Sumeru bases consist of three layers: the bottom layer depicts the nine mountains and eight oceans from Buddhist cosmology, while coiling dragons are carved on the waist; the middle layer has 16 niches with reliefs of Bodhisattvas; the top layer has eight niches with reliefs depicting a Buddha Pentad. Inscriptions of dharanis are carved upon the pillar bodies, one with the Sitatapatra Dharani Sutra and the other with the Mahapratisara Dharani Sutra. The construction dates can also be found on both pillars.
The sutra pillars have timber imitation eaves, with bracket sets beneath them. Carvings of drip tiles and tile caps can be found on the edges of the eaves, while the roofs have corrugated tiles and ridge decorations in the form of mythical creatures. The lower eaves are decorated with plantain leaves, jewels, upright and inverted lotuses, and square columns. Niches are carved on all the short column bodies with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas depicted in them. The spire consists of the jewels of the sun and moon.