Wanfo Stone Pagoda

CHINA, Jiangsu, Suzhou

The date of the pagoda’s construction is unknown but on the north wall there is an inscription stating that the pagoda was repaired by the eminent monk Xinri in 1306 during the Yuan dynasty. The pagoda’s name comes from the thousands of Buddha images on the walls of the chamber. It was listed as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site in 1982.
The pagoda is made of limestone and can be separated into the base, first tier, second tier, and spire. Its overall height is 10.8 m. The rectangular base has a length of 8.7 m, a width of 5.3 m, and a height of 2 m. There are stone steps on the south side and balustrades on the east, south, and west sides. The stupa stands on the northern half of the base. The first tier is in the form of a truncated pyramid and there are square pilasters at the corners. There is a doorway on the south side and the arch is decorated with a flame pattern. The second tier consists of a Sumeru throne, above which there is a stupa body with carvings of Buddha images in shallow niches on the four sides. The body is surmounted by a square pyramidal roof. The spire consists of an inverted bowl, stacked rings, and a jewel. Unlike the exterior, which is characterized by straight lines, the internal chamber is rounded, resembling a bell. The walls are covered in thousands of carvings of seated Buddhas. This pagoda is the only one of its kind in China.