Ashoka Monastery

(Local Name: Ayuwang Si) The Ashoka Monastery was founded in 425, not far from Tiantong Si, and achieved fame through a stupa which is said to contain a bone belonging to Shakyamuni. According to tradition it was found by Liu Sake in 282. The bone is today kept in a wooden dagoba inside the stone stupa, for the protection of which a temple was specially erected. Behind the stupa can be seen a statue which represents Shakyamuni entering Nirvana, while on the back wall of the temple four guardians of heaven are depicted in high relief. On the terrace in front of the building a number of stelae are displayed, the oldest of which dates from 833. The 36m/118ft high tiled pagoda to the west of the temple was built in 13