Forest Of Stupas

Jiaohe, Xinjiang
Site Plan
West of the large vihara, seen on the previous pages, is a rather amazing complex of 105 stupas. The complex consists of five groups arranged in quincunx. The central group, seen here, consists of five stupas, also arranged in quincunx. The four surrounding groups each contain 25 stupas arranged as 5x5. Only the bases, of the surrounding groups, exist today.

The stupas are very early, 4th century AD; the central stupa probably held a Buddha relic, and the surrounding stupas held the remains of important monks of that time.