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.
The original structure was commissioned by the king of the Wu dynasty in 247 CE and initially featured thirteen stories. About a century later, it was reduced to seven stories during reconstruction work in 1125.
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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