Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.48

v1.c7.48

The influence of the construction of Indian Buddhist pagodas on Chinese Buddhist architecture is obvious. After the death of the Buddha Śākyamuni, his physical body (*śarīra*) was transformed to relics. These were collected by eight kings in the area and distributed over pagodas which were built for worshipping. When Buddhism entered China, relic worship also followed. The scriptures record