Buddhism at Leifeng Tower, Hangzhou

Leifeng Tower located on the southern shore of West Lake in Hangzhou, is deeply connected to Buddhism and Chinese folklore. Originally built in 975 AD during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period by King Qian Chu of Wuyue, Leifeng Tower was constructed to enshrine Buddhist relics and pray for peace. In Buddhist tradition, pagodas like Leifeng Tower are sacred structures that hold relics, scriptures, or remains of eminent monks. They symbolize enlightenment, wisdom, and protection. Some believe the tower once housed Buddhist relics attributed to Emperor Ashoka’s legendary distribution of Buddha’s remains across Asia. The original tower collapsed in 1924, but the government rebuilt it in 2002 with a modern steel-and-glass structure while maintaining its traditional Buddhist architectural elements. During the rebuilt, archaeologists made an exciting discovery beneath the site. They uncovered a stone casket containing precious Buddhist relics, including: - Gold and silver Buddhist statues - Buddhist scriptures engraved on metal plates - Fragments of ancient Buddhist relics (possibly sarira) This finding confirmed the tower’s religious significance and revived its status as a Buddhist site. The relics were later transferred to Hangzhou Buddhist temples and museums for preservation. #hangzho #เที่ยวจีน