[4][5] In 425, in the 2nd year of Yuanjia period (424–453) in the Liu Song dynasty (420–479), Emperor Wendi ordered abbot Daoyou (道佑) to enlarge the temple.

[6][4][5] In 522, in the 3rd year of Putong period (520–527) in the Liang dynasty (502–557), Emperor Wudi inscribed and honored the name "Temple of King Ashoka" (阿育王寺).

In 540, Emperor Wudi donated 500 gold taels to establish a five-story pagoda, a bronze statue of Buddha and an iron tripod.

[4][5] In 713, in the 2nd year of Xiantian period (712–713) in the Tang dynasty (618–907), monk Liaoyuan (了緣) elected the Western Pagoda Temple (西塔院).

[4][5] During the Jianyan period (1127–1130) of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), the stupa was transferred to the imperial palace for worship, Emperor Gaozong bestowed a plaque on the temple with the Chinese characters "佛頂光明之塔".

[4][5] In 1174, Emperor Xiaozong inscribed a plaque with the words "妙胜之殿" to the temple and bestowed the abbot Congkuo (從廓) upon the title of "Miaozhi Chan Master" (妙智禪師).

[4][5] During the reign of Emperor Shizu (1260–1294) of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), Wanji (頑極) and Rugong (如珙) successively served as abbot of the Temple of King Ashoka.

[4][5] After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, regular sutras lectures, meditation and other features of temple life were resumed.

[4][5] The administrative control of the temple was finally transferred to Buddhist community in September 1988, and the government has allocated CN¥ 0.6 million for the reconstruction project.

[4][5] In May 2006, it was listed among the sixth group of "Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Zhejiang" by the State Council of China.

Under the eaves is a plaque with the Chinese characters "八吉祥地" written by Zhao Puchu, the former president of Buddhist Association of China.

Two sets of Chinese Buddhist canon which were printed in the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods of the Qing dynasty are preserved in the hall.