From rags to riches

The sculptures of deities in auspicious clouds have facial features that appear to be more Indian than Chinese. The coiled dragon with nine heads is woven with silver thread and hundreds of small pearls to look like scales.

Writer of megahits relies on instincts

It was preserved in two wooden cases and the inner case had vivid paintings of the Four Heavenly Kings - Buddhist gods that guard sacred mountains.

According to the inscription, the paintings were done in 1013 and they were so finely rendered that the wooden case was classified as a National Treasure.

The Pearl Pillar of the Buddhist Shrine is tower-shaped and about 122.6 cm tall. Its main body is made of nanmu wood. It also has engravings, precious gems and other fine decorative elements.

Eight silver lions are on the base, styled after Mount Sumeru, according to Indian legend. Each lion is just 3-4 cm tall, but are presented in distinctive postures, such as jumping, squatting, yawning, looking back and scratching the ear.

Also on the base is a coiled dragon with nine heads. It is woven with silver threads and hundreds of small pearls, and looks like scales.

Above the dragons are sculptures of deities in auspicious clouds. They have facial features that resemble Indians more than Chinese.

A canopy featuring fairies and deities, Buddha's name and words of blessing form the central part of the shrine, the Octagonal Sutra pillar.

Hidden inside the pillar was a small ceramic bottle that contained nine grains of Sarira beads, pearl-like objects found among the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters. These Sarira beads are regarded as the most sacred objects found in Buddhism pagodas.

Also found at Ruiguang Pagoda were Buddhist scriptures, plus bronze and clay Buddha statues - among them the ones found by the young treasure hunters.

Discoveries from Ruiguang and the Pagoda of Yunyan Temple at Huqiu are among the most important exhibits at Suzhou Museum.

The exhibition takes up two of the most prominent halls at the new museum, designed by internationally acclaimed architect I.M. Pei.

Contact the writer at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn.