地藏寺(si)經幢(chuang)(chuang)為(wei)(wei)方錐狀石(shi)雕(diao),幢(chuang)(chuang)體七級八(ba)面,由五(wu)段砂(sha)石(shi)組成(cheng),通(tong)高6.3米。基(ji)座是一(yi)(yi)(yi)個八(ba)方形的(de)(de)須彌(mi)座,邊上(shang)刻(ke)蓮花。上(shang)面是雕(diao)有云紋和天龍(long)(long)八(ba)部的(de)(de)鼓形幢(chuang)(chuang)基(ji),兩條龍(long)(long)為(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)(yi)組,龍(long)(long)頭相向,共(gong)戲一(yi)(yi)(yi)珠,呈(cheng)“二龍(long)(long)搶寶”之(zhi)態。古幢(chuang)(chuang)第一(yi)(yi)(yi)層(ceng)界(jie)石(shi)上(shang),刻(ke)有慈濟(ji)大師段進(jin)全撰(zhuan)寫(xie)的(de)(de)《敬造(zao)佛頂尊勝(sheng)寶幢(chuang)(chuang)記(ji)(ji)》(即《造(zao)幢(chuang)(chuang)記(ji)(ji)》),用漢字楷書直行鐫刻(ke),記(ji)(ji)載了(le)建幢(chuang)(chuang)的(de)(de)目的(de)(de)和經過。從記(ji)(ji)載可知:此幢(chuang)(chuang)是大理(li)國布燮(宰官)袁(yuan)豆光為(wei)(wei)已(yi)故昆明(ming)(ming)鄯闡侯(hou)(高軍(jun)政(zheng)(zheng)長官)高明(ming)(ming)生超(chao)薦亡魂而建造(zao)的(de)(de),歌頌(song)了(le)高明(ming)(ming)生的(de)(de)功業(ye),也炫耀了(le)袁(yuan)豆光如何盡(jin)忠輔佐幼主,使“東海浪(lang)澄于驚波,楚(chu)天霄凈于讒(chan)霧”的(de)(de)政(zheng)(zheng)績。
古幢(chuang)(chuang)第(di)一層(ceng)(ceng)雕(diao)有(you)(you)身(shen)披甲胄,手(shou)持(chi)斧鉞的(de)四大天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)王像(xiang),像(xiang)高(gao)一米(mi)有(you)(you)余,莊(zhuang)重威嚴。三(san)尊(zun)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神(shen)足(zu)踏(ta)鬼(gui)奴;一鬼(gui)奴面目猙獰,筋肉突起,右手(shou)挽住(zhu)毒蛇,另二名鬼(gui)奴皆(jie)戴(dai)鐐銬。另一尊(zun)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神(shen)足(zu)下有(you)(you)三(san)人(ren)(ren),居中者用(yong)(yong)雙手(shou)各(ge)(ge)托天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)王一足(zu)。在四天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)王之(zhi)間(jian)鐫刻有(you)(you)古梵文佛(fo)經。第(di)二層(ceng)(ceng)四角分雕(diao)表(biao)情各(ge)(ge)異、衣飾(shi)自然的(de)四神(shen)坐像(xiang)及釋迦坐像(xiang)。第(di)三(san)層(ceng)(ceng)雕(diao)佛(fo)像(xiang)、菩薩(sa)和(he)脅(xie)侍。南(nan)龕為(wei)地藏菩薩(sa);北(bei)龕雕(diao)三(san)十六手(shou)觀音(yin)一尊(zun),觀音(yin)寶冠華服,神(shen)態慈(ci)祥,造型(xing)優(you)美(mei),三(san)十六手(shou)各(ge)(ge)持(chi)不同法器環于身(shen)后,整座(zuo)雕(diao)像(xiang)僅(jin)(jin)刻在手(shou)掌大的(de)石(shi)塊上,令人(ren)(ren)驚嘆(tan)不已。第(di)四層(ceng)(ceng)雕(diao)大小(xiao)不一的(de)八(ba)尊(zun)坐佛(fo)。第(di)五層(ceng)(ceng)雕(diao)靈鷲(jiu)。第(di)六層(ceng)(ceng)雕(diao)仿(fang)木結構的(de)廡(wu)殿(dian)四座(zuo),每殿(dian)內供(gong)三(san)世佛(fo)及佛(fo)弟(di)子共(gong)五尊(zun),雕(diao)刻極其精細,連(lian)廡(wu)殿(dian)檐下的(de)古式斗拱都(dou)明(ming)晰(xi)地雕(diao)刻出(chu)來。第(di)七層(ceng)(ceng)幢(chuang)(chuang)身(shen)為(wei)圓柱(zhu)形(xing),上雕(diao)小(xiao)佛(fo)像(xiang)。幢(chuang)(chuang)頂為(wei)蓮(lian)(lian)瓣承托的(de)圓球,可惜周圍蓮(lian)(lian)瓣有(you)(you)損壞。整座(zuo)古幢(chuang)(chuang)共(gong)雕(diao)刻佛(fo)教密(mi)部(bu)佛(fo)母、佛(fo)、菩薩(sa)及天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)龍八(ba)部(bu)像(xiang)300尊(zun),大者一米(mi)有(you)(you)余,小(xiao)者僅(jin)(jin)三(san)厘米(mi),布局嚴密(mi),神(shen)像(xiang)造型(xing)確當,體態端莊(zhuang);且(qie)刻工精細嫻熟,采用(yong)(yong)圓雕(diao)技(ji)法,線條明(ming)快(kuai)流暢,極富立(li)體感(gan)。可謂匠技(ji)精絕(jue),海(hai)內罕見。
古(gu)幢(chuang)一出土即以其(qi)絕世(shi)的精(jing)美震驚(jing)中外(wai),引起(qi)“中外(wai)人(ren)士奔走摩挲”,被譽(yu)為(wei)“東方絕世(shi)稀(xi)有(you)之美術!”歷史(shi)學家方國(guo)瑜教授評價古(gu)幢(chuang)為(wei)“滇中藝(yi)(yi)術,此極品也(ye)!”是我國(guo)現存的古(gu)代建(jian)筑、石刻藝(yi)(yi)術中的稀(xi)世(shi)之寶,距(ju)今(jin)已有(you)700多年(nian)的歷史(shi)。
地(di)藏寺經(jing)幢是一座供養(yang)密(mi)教眾(zhong)神的(de)(de)曼萘羅,是研究云南地(di)方史和古代佛教(密(mi)宗)藝術的(de)(de)寶(bao)貴實(shi)物資料。1982年,國務院(yuan)將(jiang)這座歷世八百余(yu)年,保存完好的(de)(de)經(jing)幢公布為全國重點保護文物單位(wei)。