Duobaozuo Pagoda in Qiubei County, Wenshan
Chinese Name: 丘北县多宝座和尚塔
English Name: Duobaozuo Monk Pagoda in Qiubei County, Wenshan
Overview
The Duobaozuo Monk Pagoda is an ancient stone pagoda located just 5 meters behind the teaching building of Yuezhe Middle School in Yuezhe Town, Qiubei County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The pagoda was constructed in the 30th year of the Daoguang Emperor’s reign during the Qing Dynasty, which corresponds to the year 1850.
Description
The pagoda is a five-tiered, conical structure built in the traditional Chinese “密檐式” (multi-eaved) style. It is made of bluestone and stands at a height of 3.53 meters. The base of the pagoda is designed in the “须弥座” (Sumeru pedestal) style, which is a common feature in Buddhist architecture. As the structure ascends, each level gradually tapers towards the top.
The remains of Monk Liao Changshan are interred beneath the base of the pagoda. The front of the pagoda features an inscription engraved in the stone, reading “多宝座” (Duobaozuo), meaning “Treasure Seat.” Additionally, a memorial tablet at the site is inscribed with “仁亮禅师号善长廖公老师爷墓” (The Tomb of Master Renliang, Chan Master Shanzhang, Liao Gong, the Teacher).
The Duobaozuo Monk Pagoda is recognized as a county-level cultural relic protection unit in Qiubei County, reflecting its historical and cultural significance.
Yuezhe Town
Yuezhe Town, where the pagoda is located, lies in the northwest part of Qiubei County at a latitude of 24º48’N and a longitude of 103º19’E, approximately 28 kilometers from the county seat. The town is bordered by Shuanglongying’s Puzhehei Village Committee to the east, Badoushao’s Lijiazhuang and Dabuhong Village Committees to the south, Shedexiang’s Xiqueluo Village Committee to the west, and Guanzhaixiang’s Shuitou Village Committee to the north.
Yuezhe Town governs six village committees: Yuezhe, Xinzha, Damushan, Honghuashan, Chushuizhai, and Puke. These committees oversee 97 natural villages and 99 village groups, home to a diverse population of 33,171 people from six ethnic groups, including Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yi, Hui, and Bai, across 7,137 households.
