Ruiguang Pagoda, Ancient Buddhist pagoda in Panmen Scenic Area, China
Ruiguang Pagoda is an octagonal brick and wood structure standing 43.2 meters tall with seven distinct floors located in Suzhou's Panmen area. The building consists of stacked levels with window and door openings that lead both inward and outward to surrounding spaces.
Sun Quan of Eastern Wu had a thirteen-storey pagoda built here in 247 CE to honour his mother. It was rebuilt in 937 during the Later Jin of the Five Dynasties. Between 1119 and 1125, under Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song, the reconstruction gave it its present seven storeys and eight faces; the brick body dates to 1009.
The pagoda displays traditional Chinese architectural elements like dougong timber brackets supporting the wooden eaves and detailed Buddhist carvings on its Sumeru stone base. These crafted details reflect the skilled work that went into creating a sacred structure.
The site is located near Suzhou's East Street area and allows visitors to explore the grounds and surrounding gardens during daylight hours. The area around this landmark is easy to walk through and offers paths to view the structure from different angles.
Archaeological digs in 1978 uncovered two gilded bronze stupas, Buddhist statues, and around 120 volumes of ancient texts hidden within the third floor. These sacred objects had been deliberately concealed there and reveal much about the worship practices of earlier times.
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