Buddhist stone pillar stands test of time

Ti Gong

A Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) Dharani jingchuang, or Buddhist stone pillar, has been well preserved through historic changes in Songjiang District.

"Buddhist scriptures are frequently copied on paper or woven fabrics to facilitate people's chanting. Curtains bearing scriptures inside Buddhist palaces easily wear out, so our ancestors came up with carving scriptures on stone pillars," said Cao Yongchun, deputy curator of the Songjiang Museum.

The Tang Dynasty jingchuang, 9.3 meters high with 21 levels of limestone blocks, is one of the oldest historic relics in Shanghai. It is also one of the most well-preserved jingchuang nationwide.

Legend has it that an ocean eye existed below the Songjiang jingchuang. Before it was constructed, an evil mullet spirit would pop up from the ocean eye, make waves and bring about floods all over Songjiang. Therefore, people built the jingchuang to fend off the spirit.

But according to Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) history, the site of the Songjiang jingchuang was once a crossing of two major paths in front of the local county government buildings. People built the jingchuang to allow aristocrats and the town's residents to pray.

A renovation of the jingchuang was initiated and financed by the Shanghai government in 1963, according to Cao. At that time, one-third of it had been buried underground and some parts had fallen off.

The renovation greatly improved the jingchuang, and the unearthed scriptures on its body showed the exact year it was completed – AD 859. During that period, Huating County, Shanghai's precursor, was established. People's material and spiritual livelihoods were gradually enriched, and Buddhism developed as well, Cao said.

The enduring cultural relic is now inside the district's Zhongshan Primary School.

Venue: Tang Dynasty Dharani Jingchuang

Address: 43 Xisi Lane, Songjiang District (inside Zhongshan Primary School)

松江区西司弄43号中山小学校内