柯子岭六榕塔和尚墓塔群

Hidden amongst the bustling city of Guangzhou, the Kezi Ridge Six Banyan Pagoda and Monk Cemetery Stupa Cluster whispers tales of centuries past. Can you imagine the lives of those laid to rest here, their stories etched in stone and whispered by the wind? This cluster, a designated cultural relic protection site, is a sprawling necropolis spanning over 2000 square meters. Kezi Ridge Six Banyan Pagoda and Monk Cemetery Stupa Cluster is the largest and most numerous Buddhist cemetery complex in Guangzhou. Originally, over 100 stupas stood here, marking the final resting places of monks and abbots across generations. They rested peacefully under the shade of ancient pine trees, their presence a testament to the enduring power of faith. Time, however, took its toll. By the 1960s, the Kezi Ridge Six Banyan Pagoda and Monk Cemetery Stupa Cluster had fallen into disrepair. Overgrown and forgotten, the stupas lay hidden, many toppled and broken. Rediscovered in 1986, the site underwent extensive restoration, revealing the remaining five circular stupas, two circular pagodas, and 46 smaller stupas. A key monument within the complex is the tomb of seven great masters, including the prominent Chan Buddhist master, Yuanxiu. A stone inscription, dated 1623, details the restoration of seven ancestral stupas, weathered by time. These were later combined into one large tomb during the reign of Emperor Tianqi. The current structure, a double-layered circular tomb, is built with irregular granite blocks and mortar. At its center stands a magnificent stele, carved with auspicious motifs of clouds embracing the moon. The inscription on the stele lists the names of the seven interred masters, forever linking them to this sacred ground. Among the smaller stupas, one stands out. Known as the “Peace and Joy” stupa, it sits in the northwest corner of the cemetery. A single-layered circular tomb, its entrance is flanked by mortar buttresses. In front of the tomb, a small octagonal, multi-layered stone pagoda reaches towards the sky. These 46 smaller stupas, each between 1.6 and 1.8 meters tall, add to the serene atmosphere. They are crafted from various stones, sandstone, red sandstone, and granite. Each has a base, a lotus-shaped body with a niche holding a memorial tablet, and an octagonal top. The Kezi Ridge Six Banyan Pagoda and Monk Cemetery Stupa Cluster is a remarkable window into Guangzhou’s rich Buddhist history. It is more than a cemetery, it is a sanctuary, a place where the echoes of devotion intertwine with the whispers of the past.