光善寺塔(ta)系磚石(shi)結(jie)構,石(shi)臺(tai)底座,磚砌八角(jiao)(jiao)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)九層樓閣式建筑,頂為(wei)鐵質(zhi)(zhi)葫蘆型,通高49米。此次修繕光善寺塔(ta)時出土(tu)的(de)(de)(de)22件(jian)(jian)(套)銀(yin)質(zhi)(zhi)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)屬(shu)唐(tang)代,經故(gu)宮博(bo)物(wu)(wu)院與(yu)山東省文(wen)物(wu)(wu)鑒(jian)定(ding)委(wei)員會專家初(chu)步鑒(jian)定(ding)均為(wei)國家一級文(wen)物(wu)(wu)。包括六(liu)角(jiao)(jiao)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)四(si)級佛(fo)(fo)塔(ta)1座、舍(she)利(li)棺(guan)1座(分四(si)部分)、大(da)唐(tang)貞觀《大(da)般(ban)(ban)涅盤(pan)經》冊1函、藏(zang)經幢1件(jian)(jian)、荷葉蓋(gai)三足蓮(lian)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)鹽(yan)器(qi)1件(jian)(jian)、茶(cha)碾(nian)1套、方(fang)體籮子1套、覆(fu)蓮(lian)托(tuo)盞1件(jian)(jian)、鳳(feng)首執壺(hu)1件(jian)(jian)、梅(mei)花形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)杯(bei)4個、梅(mei)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)盤(pan)1個、帶蓋(gai)八棱罐(guan)2個、十(shi)曲蓮(lian)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)碗1個、九曲蓮(lian)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)碗1個、蓮(lian)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)杯(bei)2件(jian)(jian)、提梁蓋(gai)罐(guan)1個。這些文(wen)物(wu)(wu)均為(wei)銀(yin)質(zhi)(zhi)錘揲成(cheng)型,器(qi)表(biao)(biao)有(you)(you)(you)明顯(xian)的(de)(de)(de)鏨(zan)刻的(de)(de)(de)陽紋(wen)(wen)(wen),主(zhu)體紋(wen)(wen)(wen)飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、佛(fo)(fo)經經名以及(ji)(ji)扉頁上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)菩(pu)(pu)薩和尾頁上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)毗沙門天王像(xiang)(xiang),舍(she)利(li)棺(guan)兩(liang)(liang)側供奉菩(pu)(pu)薩和護法神像(xiang)(xiang)均有(you)(you)(you)鎏(liu)金;藏(zang)經幢有(you)(you)(you)六(liu)尊(zun)菩(pu)(pu)薩形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)象(xiang),六(liu)角(jiao)(jiao)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)四(si)級佛(fo)(fo)塔(ta),裝(zhuang)飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)圖(tu)(tu)案(an)以鳥獸紋(wen)(wen)(wen)為(wei)主(zhu),佛(fo)(fo)塔(ta)每級飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)有(you)(you)(you)一尊(zun)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang),周邊(bian)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)四(si)大(da)天王像(xiang)(xiang);提梁蓋(gai)罐(guan)主(zhu)體紋(wen)(wen)(wen)飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)鸚鵡裝(zhuang)飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)間飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)精(jing)美(mei)典(dian)雅的(de)(de)(de)卷面番蓮(lian)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)及(ji)(ji)蔓草(cao)紋(wen)(wen)(wen);杯(bei)盞圈足飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)連珠(zhu)紋(wen)(wen)(wen),帶有(you)(you)(you)明顯(xian)中亞藝術風格(ge)的(de)(de)(de)影(ying)響;茶(cha)碾(nian)子兩(liang)(liang)側有(you)(you)(you)兩(liang)(liang)對躍馬(ma)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)象(xiang),茶(cha)羅子上(shang)部及(ji)(ji)兩(liang)(liang)側正面均有(you)(you)(you)騎(qi)鳳(feng)凰仙人形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)象(xiang),表(biao)(biao)現(xian)了道教或漢(han)地傳統信仰題材。全部藏(zang)品裝(zhuang)飾(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)圖(tu)(tu)案(an)線(xian)條精(jing)美(mei),做工精(jing)致。極為(wei)珍貴(gui)的(de)(de)(de)是《大(da)般(ban)(ban)涅盤(pan)經》封底上(shang)有(you)(you)(you)“大(da)唐(tang)貞觀”陰(yin)刻年款(kuan)。另外,隨(sui)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)出土(tu)的(de)(de)(de)還有(you)(you)(you)舍(she)利(li)一宗。
這批出土(tu)的(de)文(wen)物(wu)等級高、數(shu)量大、保(bao)存好,尤其珍(zhen)貴的(de)是(shi)印有大唐貞觀年款的(de)《大般涅(nie)盤經(jing)》在(zai)國內外(wai)未(wei)見有相關報道。它從(cong)一(yi)個(ge)側面(mian)反映(ying)了(le)金鄉(xiang)縣佛教(jiao)文(wen)化(hua)的(de)興(xing)盛(sheng),顯示了(le)金鄉(xiang)縣在(zai)唐代已(yi)是(shi)山東(dong)(dong)乃至(zhi)全國佛教(jiao)文(wen)化(hua)最為(wei)繁榮的(de)地區(qu)之一(yi)。為(wei)研究唐代佛教(jiao)文(wen)化(hua)和山東(dong)(dong)地區(qu)佛教(jiao)的(de)發(fa)展史,提供(gong)了(le)極為(wei)難得的(de)實物(wu)資料。
據(ju)記載,此(ci)(ci)塔(ta)始(shi)建(jian)于唐(tang)代(dai)(dai),但其形(xing)制卻與唐(tang)代(dai)(dai)塔(ta)相(xiang)差甚遠。另據(ju)記載此(ci)(ci)塔(ta)在元代(dai)(dai)有過大(da)修(xiu),疑為在元代(dai)(dai)拆除重建(jian)。塔(ta)八角九(jiu)層(ceng),塔(ta)檐(yan)盡毀,抗(kang)日戰(zhan)爭時期被(bei)日本人轟(hong)去上三(san)層(ceng)。上世(shi)紀末進行(xing)了(le)大(da)修(xiu),恢復了(le)塔(ta)的原狀。塔(ta)先后(hou)被(bei)公布為濟(ji)寧市(shi)級文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位(wei)(wei)、山東省級文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位(wei)(wei)。2013年五月被(bei)公布為全國第七批重點文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位(wei)(wei)。在“國保(bao)”的名單(dan)中,此(ci)(ci)塔(ta)的建(jian)造年代(dai)(dai)被(bei)記錄為明(ming)代(dai)(dai)。