Asoka pillar

Asoka column is a rare stone column carved by hand from the whole granite in China. It is 16.9 meters high and weighs more than 200 tons.

It is said that Ashoka felt guilty in his later years and converted to Buddhism after being enlightened by monks. In order to promote Buddhism, he erected stone pillars everywhere.

There are four stone lions on the stone pillars, which face east, South, West and North. It also symbolizes the spread of Buddhism in all directions.

The Chinese and Sanskrit characters "Ashoka column" are inscribed by Ji Xianlin, a contemporary master of Chinese culture. They are rare works of sculpture in China.

Asoka pillar

Not far from the old castle, on the Bank of the Jumna River, a bare stone pillar stands high on the top of an old castle. This is the famous "Ashoka pillar". In order to promote Buddhism, King Asoka, the famous monarch of Peacock Dynasty BC, erected many such stone pillars. The Ashoka column is 12.97 meters high, with a diameter of about 1 meter at the bottom and 0.65 meters at the top, and weighs 27 tons. The surface of the column was originally made of gold, but now it has fallen off. The capitals were originally four powerful lions, decorated with complicated carvings. It is a pity that this exquisite stigma has been separated from the stone column.

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history

It is said that Ashoka, who lived in the Peacock Dynasty of ancient India, fought all his life. In his later years, he felt guilty. After being enlightened by monks, he converted to Buddhism and used Buddhism to educate the people. In order to promote Buddhism, he erected stone pillars and engraved Scriptures for the common people to learn. He also sent envoys to other countries to spread Buddhism to the surrounding countries. In order to carry forward the Buddhist dharma, Yu Zimin once erected such stone pillars. The pillar was originally erected in milut, east of the Jumna River. In the 14th century, Islamic emperors ordered people to move it into the palace of Delhi. The stone pillar became a symbol of Indian national spirit after it was unearthed in the 19th century. In 1950, the Indian government decided to use it as the national emblem to reflect the pride of India's long culture and national independence.

appearance

The top of the stone column is carved with different patterns. At the top of the stone pillars erected in Luye garden, a famous Buddhist holy land, are four male lions sitting opposite each other. The four lions look at each other with vivid shapes. The stone lion crouches on the inverted bell shaped lotus. There are four kinds of animals carved around the lotus, which represent the four directions of East, West, North and south. Each animal is separated by Falun. The whole column head is carved with gray marble. It is exquisitely carved, finely polished, and has the texture of ice and jade. Taking the lion as a metaphor, it symbolizes the majestic momentum of the unified empire of the Peacock Dynasty. Lotus and Falun are the symbols of Buddhism, which shows that Asoka governed the world with Buddhism and educated all sides. Xuanzang came to Luyeyuan to see the Buddha's trace. He was very surprised when he saw this stone pillar. He described it as "more than 70 feet high" in the records of the western regions of the Tang Dynasty. The stone is rich in jade, and the mirror is clear. " It also says that it can show the images of all living beings and the good and evil aspects of life under people's sincere prayer.

Address: Lingshan Road, Mashan, Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province

Longitude: 120.10435298679

Latitude: 31.421205401243

Tour time: 30 minutes

Traffic information: it is located in the Lingshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area in Wuxi. The traffic mode is as follows

1. Take bus No.88 from Wuxi railway station and get off at Bibo villa station. It's about 2.5 hours' drive. After getting off, walk about 300 meters to Lingshan scenic spot, and then walk to Lingshan scenic spot.

2. Take bus No.89 from Wuxi central station and get off at Bibo villa station. It takes about 2.5 hours. After getting off, walk about 300 meters to Lingshan scenic spot, and then walk to Lingshan scenic spot.

Ticket information: included in the ticket of Lingshan scenic spot.