Shengji Temple Bronze Pagoda () is located in Fuhu Temple, Mount Emei, Sichuan. It is named for its original location in Shengji Temple. The pagoda, also known as the Huayan Bronze Pagoda (), is cast with the text of the Avatamsaka Sutra and scenes depicting the seven places and nine assemblies () where the Buddha is said to have preached. It is the earliest large-scale bronze pagoda still existing in China.
The bronze pagoda has eight sides and thirteen tiers, with a height of 5.8 meters. It combines the features of a Lama-style pagoda and a multi-eaved tower, and was originally built with a square pedestal resembling Mount Meru. The body of the pagoda has 4,762 buddha effigies and a wealth of inscriptions including the Avatamsaka Sutra. It also features motifs such as figures, lions and elephants.
History
The Shenji Bronze Pagoda was built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and was supervised by Zen master Miaofeng, who was funded by the Wanli Emperor.
During the Great Leap Forward movement in 1958, the pagoda was transferred to Chongqing Iron and Steel Company to be smelted along with other metal relics. In 1959, the provincial communist committee stopped the action and transferred the pagoda to the Baoguo Temple in 1964. In 1980, the provincial cultural department funded the construction of a pavilion at Baoguo Temple to house the pagoda. The pagoda was eventually moved into the pavilion in April 1982.
In 2008, the Sichuan Earthquake damaged the pagoda.
Protection
On August 16, 1956, the pagoda was listed as the first batch of historical and revolutionary cultural relics protection units in Sichuan Province. On July 7, 1980, when the second batch of Sichuan provincial cultural relics protection units was re-announced, it was merged into Fuhu Temple. On April 16, 1991, it was announced as the third batch of cultural relics protection units in Sichuan Province.四川省人民政府川府發（1991）50號文件《關於公布第三批省級重點文物保護單位的通知》 In 2006, it was designated as one of the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Site of China.
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