Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple, Buddhist cemetery in Dengfeng, China
The Pagoda Forest is a burial ground at Shaolin Temple where around 250 memorial towers honor distinguished Buddhist monks. The site spans a large area and displays structures built across many different periods of Chinese history.
The oldest pagoda here dates from 791 and began a tradition that lasted through multiple Chinese dynasties. The site grew over centuries and became a record of Buddhism's presence across generations.
Each pagoda's height and number of tiers indicate the rank and achievements of the monk buried within. The way these structures stand together shows how the community honored different levels of spiritual accomplishment.
The site sits about 280 meters southwest of the main temple, near the Shaoxi River. Plan enough time to walk through and examine the individual pagodas and their stone inscriptions at a comfortable pace.
Many of the roughly 240 ancient pagodas carry carved inscriptions that document Buddhist practices and calligraphy from different eras. These stones serve as a written record that visitors can still read and study today.
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