Sutra Pillar of the Ksitigarbha Temple, Buddhist religious pillar in Kunming, China
The Sutra Pillar of the Ksitigarbha Temple is a stone column located within temple grounds in Kunming. Its surface displays detailed Buddhist carvings and religious inscriptions engraved into the stone.
The structure originates from the Dali Kingdom period and reflects the Buddhist construction traditions of that era. It received national protection status in 1982 as a Major Historical and Cultural Site of China.
The pillar honors Ksitigarbha, a bodhisattva revered in Chinese Buddhism as a protector of the deceased. Visitors can observe this veneration expressed through the carvings and layout of the temple grounds.
The pillar stands within a temple complex and is best visited as part of exploring the surrounding religious site. Take time to examine the carvings and inscriptions on the stone surface closely.
The inscriptions on the pillar contain actual Buddhist sutras carved directly into the stone as sacred texts. This made the monument function simultaneously as a memorial and as a physical record of religious teachings.
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