 The text of a commemorative stele marking its construction has been preserved, from which it is known that the Empress Dowager ordered the construction of a pagoda to protect the reign of her infant son, and as a reliquary for housing pieces of head bone of the Buddha.The construction of the pagoda was completed in 1050, on the 25th day of the 3rd month of 1st year of the Tianyou Chuisheng era.In 1055 a set of the Tripiṭaka given by Emperor Renzong of Song was deposited at the Chengtian Temple.