Recently, a netizen posted on social media that during a visit to the Simen Pagoda at Shentong Temple, they took a photo of a Buddha statue and, upon zooming in, discovered that the head of the statue had been carved with text. According to the image shared, the carvings on the statue’s head include the words “Shandong Provincial Surveying Bureau, Fifteen People”.
Public records show that Simen Pagoda is located in the southern mountainous area of Jinan City, and is the only surviving stone pagoda from the Sui Dynasty in China, completed in 611 AD during the 7th year of the Sui Dynasty’s Daye reign—over 1,400 years ago. Due to the large number of cats found around the temple, it has affectionately been nicknamed “Cat Temple” by netizens. In the 1930s, renowned architects Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin conducted rescue-style field research on ancient Chinese architecture, and Simen Pagoda was one of their key destinations. The site also served as one of the filming locations for the hit video game Black Myth: Wukong.
On July 18, the media contacted the Simen Pagoda Scenic Area, and staff confirmed awareness of the matter. “According to recollections from our retired staff, the carvings may date back to the 1970s or 1980s. The scenic area has actually been aware of them since the 1980s,” said a staff member.
They further explained that in addition to the carvings on the Buddha statue, other engravings have been found on brick towers and ancient trees within the scenic area, which were also discussed with retired employees.
According to one retired employee, before the 1950s, Simen Pagoda had no gates and was completely open. Around the 1970s, a gate was installed, but due to weak management, it remained semi-open. It wasn’t until the 1980s, when a Cultural Relics Protection Office was established and staffing increased, that formal control measures were introduced. Since then, the site has had 24/7 security presence, followed by surveillance cameras. Today, tourist entry to the pagoda is strictly prohibited, making new carvings highly unlikely. The retired worker estimated that the carvings on the Buddha’s head were likely made in the 1970s, but the exact individual responsible remains unknown.
The scenic area staff emphasized that this type of Buddha statue is considered a national treasure. Several years ago, the site submitted a restoration plan for the carved Buddha head to the higher-level Cultural Heritage Administration, but it was not approved. Restoration of cultural relics is subject to strict principles, one being “restoration should match the original and minimize intervention.” “The carvings are indeed an eyesore, and we do want to repair them, but such work must follow proper approval processes,” said the staff member. Currently, the site has comprehensive personnel, technical, and physical security measures in place, and will continue to apply for restoration approval in the future.
Regarding whether the scenic area had previously contacted the Shandong Provincial Surveying Bureau, the staff said they were unsure. “I searched online but couldn’t find such a unit.” Upon further investigation, reporters found no current organization by that name. The only related agency is the Shandong Provincial Institute of Land Surveying and Mapping. A staff member there clarified that the Shandong Provincial Surveying Bureau was a separate entity that no longer exists. They also emphasized that cultural heritage protection is currently a top priority, and that security measures for relics are being strengthened.
