Stone Pillars of Brahma Temple, Buddhist stone monument in Hangzhou, China
The Stone Pillars of Brahma Temple are octagonal columns with Sanskrit texts translated into Chinese characters carved into their surfaces. The structure displays carefully worked surfaces where religious messages remain clearly readable.
These stone columns date to the Tang Dynasty between 618 and 907, when Buddhist monks placed them as religious markers near temple entrances. They represent a period when Buddhist belief spread and took root across China.
The pillars hold inscribed dharani chants that blend Indian Buddhist teachings with Chinese architectural and spiritual traditions. These carved texts show how religious ideas traveled and transformed within local practice.
The pillars are located in central Hangzhou and are easily reached on foot. Access is straightforward, and visitors should allow enough time to view the inscriptions on each side.
Each pillar displays different Buddhist texts through specialized carving techniques that have preserved their readability across centuries. This craft precision allowed religious messages to remain visibly clear to this day.
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