Picture this. You stand before the Xiudaozhe Tower a seven-story wood-brick structure. It’s more than 1000 years old. It has survived wars and disasters.
The Xiudaozhe Tower on Sheshan Hill’s slope is truly remarkable. Legend says Monk Xiu helped build it between 976 and 984 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty. After its completion the legend goes Monk Xiu set himself on fire. He considered the pagoda his final act.
But did you know the Xiudaozhe Tower also has another name? Many locals call it Sisters Tower or Virgins Tower. This name holds a captivating story.
In the Song Dynasty three sisters escaped their forced marriages. They fled to Sheshan Hill. The sisters commissioned a hermit to build this very tower. They became nuns living in seclusion within its walls for the rest of their lives.
Locals say you can still hear their faint cries on the first and fifth days of the lunar month. They say it’s the sisters begging not to be sent home. The sounds however are actually the wind whistling through holes made by black-head bees. These holes are in the old brick and wood structure.
A yin-yang pattern nearby symbolizes balance. It is made of black and white stones. It represents the harmony of opposites like light and shadow.
The Xiudaozhe Tower is more than just bricks and wood. It holds centuries of stories. It whispers tales of a monk’s devotion. It echoes the heartbreak of three sisters. It speaks of the enduring power of legend and the harmony of nature. The Xiudaozhe Tower stands as a testament to time. It stands as a timeless symbol of perseverance in the heart of Shanghai.