English: Dharani Pillar. Dali Kingdom, 1200-1220 AD. Kunming City Museum.
This finely-carved pillar originally occupied the
grounds of a temple which has since disappeared. Much later, the City Museum was built on the site, leaving the pillar undisturbed. Constructed in 9 levels upon an octagonal base, and over 8m (26 feet) tall, the red sandstone pillar represents both a Mt. Sumeru world-axis and an Esoteric Buddhist mandala.