The
Drum Tower is situated to the north west of the Tianwang Hall, opposite to
the Bell Tower. It was first built in 1300 ( in the reign of Emperor Cheng
Zong of the Yuan Dynasty) After the fire only the broken carved stone
columns, carved pedestals and the stone threshold remained. According to
records of the ancient tablets, the murals and especially the pictures of
the building before it was destroyed, the shape and dimensions of this
tower were quite large and magnificent.
Image
of Buddha inside the Drum Tower.1. Inscription on Repairing Shaolin Temple, by Yang Guozhen in 1829;
2. Inscription on Renovating 1000 Buddha Hall, by Zneg Youreng in 1776;
3. Poem Tablet; Ode to Songshan Mountain & Shaolin, by Wang Shangjong, Ming Dynasty;
4. Damo Ferrying the Changjiang (Yangtze) River by Reed & devil subduing deity Zong Kui, illustration, by Lang Jianting in 1624.
5. Imperial book about the Genealogy of Five Schools of Chan Sect Buddhism. It is a genealogical table of Buddhism successors in Shaolin temple since Damo. This tablet is very important for the study of the history of Shaolin temple.
Present
day information board attached to the building says this:"The Drum Tower was a building of the Yuan Dynasty. It was destroyed in 1928 and was rebuilt in 1996 after the old model. I is a magnificent and spacious pavilion - style structure at the foot of the mountain, with a height of more than 33 metres. Inside the tower is stored China's biggest handicraft drum. The Drum Tower is just opposite to the Bell Tower. When both the drum and bell are sounding simultaneously, they can be heard as far as more than 30 li away."
