Ashoka Pagoda

Ashoka Pagoda is a Buddhist structure with profound historical and cultural significance, named after the ancient Indian King Ashoka. The construction of Ashoka Pagodas in China began during the Eastern Han Dynasty and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. According to statistics, there are a total of 19 Ashoka Pagodas across China. The Ashoka Pagoda I am referring to is located at No. 16 Cang Street, Dai County, Shanxi, within the Yuan Guo Temple, situated in the backyard of the Dai County Government Office, commonly known as the White Pagoda. It stands opposite the Bianjing Tower in the ancient city, competing in elegance. The Ashoka Pagoda in the ancient city of Dai County was first built in the first year of the Renshou era of the Sui Dynasty (601 AD). Originally a wooden structure called 'Longxing,' it was destroyed during the Huichang era of the Tang Dynasty (842 AD) and rebuilt in the first year of the Dazhong era (847 AD), renamed 'Yuan Guo.' It was burned down in the second year of the Yuanfeng era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1079 AD) and rebuilt in the first year of the Chongning era (1102 AD). It was destroyed again by Yuan soldiers in the eleventh year of the Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1079 AD). After enduring three calamities over more than 600 years, it was rebuilt as a brick pagoda in the twelfth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1275 AD). The pagoda is conical in shape, with a Tibetan Buddhist style. The base of the pagoda is rectangular, measuring 50 meters from north to south, 30 meters from east to west, and 1.5 meters high, with the pagoda built at the center of the base. The pagoda is exquisitely constructed, with harmonious proportions, and holds significant value for cultural relic research. Liang Sicheng once called it 'the best-proportioned bottle-shaped pagoda in China.' Luo Zhewen commented, 'If the unique shape of the Ashoka Pagoda in Dai County is not the best in the country, I cannot be sure; but if it is the second best, I have never seen the first.' Its unique value is evident. On May 24, 1965, the Ashoka Pagoda was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit in Shanxi Province by the Shanxi Provincial People's Government. On July 16, 2001, the Ashoka Pagoda was designated as a national cultural relic protection unit by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Ticket Information: Free Opening Hours: All day Transportation Guide: Walk 170 meters from the Dai County Government Office to reach the pagoda.