Famen Temple | True Relic Pagoda

| True Relic Pagoda. ◾️ Entering from the South Gate of Famen Temple, the first thing you see is the True Relic Pagoda, a landmark of Famen Temple. It has been rebuilt many times in history, and the one we see today was rebuilt in 1988. The pagoda is 71.679 meters high and consists of a base, a body, and a spire. The body is designed in the style of the octagonal pavilion structure of the Famen Temple Pagoda before it was burned down, retaining the usual style of Han pagodas. The body is covered with copper tiles, with copper brackets at the corners and copper wind chimes hanging from the eaves, giving it an ancient charm. ◾️ Famen Temple Famen Temple was built because of the relics, and the pagoda was built because of the temple. It was originally called Ashoka Temple. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, it was renamed "Chengshi Dojo," and in the 7th year of Wude (625) of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, it was renamed "Famen Temple" and was known as the royal temple. The finger bone relic of Buddha Shakyamuni is hidden in the underground palace under the pagoda. The overall layout of Famen Temple adopts the design of a pagoda-centered temple with the hall behind the pagoda. The existing buildings include the Copper Buddha Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the True Relic Pagoda. The solemn and magnificent halls and the incense-filled Buddha statues all demonstrate the sanctity of this thousand-year-old temple.