Ruiguang Pagoda, Suzhou is an octagonal structure that was built of both brick and wood. The body of Ruiguang Pagoda, Suzhou is made up of bricks, but the roof space, balconies and banisters were made of wood. The stone Sumeru pedestal is embroidered with carved patterns that look beautiful.
The height of Ruiguang Pagoda, Suzhou is 43.2 meters. The tower of the pagoda was broken by a strong wind in June 1879 and the pent roofs have become ruined too but recently it was developed and renovated also.
In April 1978 many cultural signs were found in a brick inside the third storey of Ruiguang Pagoda, Suzhou. It included two gilded bronze stupas or structures, nine statues of Guardian of the Earth and Goddess of Mercy and other Buddhist images. There are also more than one hundred twenty volumes of Buddhist scriptures and a pillar decorated with Buddha's name and scriptures. The 122.6 centimeter pillar, with pearls and precious beads and a combination of the art of jade sculpture, gold and silver ware, wood carving, gold tracing and carved polish work, is regarded as a rare treasure of great value. All these precious things are now kept in the Suzhou Museum. This pagoda is one of the main tourist attractions in Suzhou.
There is a long history of Ruiguang Pagoda, Suzhou. It is said that during the Three Kingdoms period Sun Quan, the king of Wu, ordered the construction of Puji Temple for a monk. In order to convey his gratitude to his mother, Sun Quan built a thirteen storey Sarira pagoda inside the temple in 247 BC. This was the first Buddhist pagoda in Suzhou.
The pagoda was in a poor condition because of its neglect over many years by the Five Dynasties that ruled. In 937 BC, during the Later Jin Dynasty, when major repairs were going on, brilliant rays of five colors were seen above the pagoda. The emperor granted that a bronze board with the inscription Rui Guang Ta to be hung on the pagoda. Since then the pagoda has been known as Pagoda of Auspicious Light.
From 1119 to 1125, when the pagoda was again in bad shape, a wealthy man provided funds for its renovation. He thought thirteen stories were too high and so he changed the structure to seven stories.
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