Stone lantern
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In Japan a tōrō (
The oldest extant bronze and stone lanterns can be found in Nara. Taima-ji has a stone lantern built during the Nara period, while Kasuga-taisha has one of the following Heian period.[4] During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1600) stone lanterns were popularized by tea masters, who used them as a decoration in their gardens.[1] Soon they started to develop new types according to the need. In modern gardens they have a purely ornamental function and are laid along paths, near water or next to a building.[2]
Tōrō can be classified in two main types, the tsuri-dōrō (
In its complete, original form (some of its elements may be either missing or additions), like the gorintō and the pagoda the dai-dōrō represents the five elements of Buddhist cosmology.[5] The bottom-most piece, touching the ground, represents chi, the earth; the next section represents sui, or water; ka or fire, is represented by the section encasing the lantern's light or flame, while fū (air) and kū (void or spirit) are represented by the last two sections, top-most and pointing towards the sky. The segments express the idea that after death our physical bodies will go back to their original, elemental form.
Hanging lanterns
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Also called kaitomoshi (掻灯), tsuri-dōrō hanging lanterns are small, four- or six-sided and made in metal, copper or wood. They were introduced from China via Korea during the Nara period and were initially used in Imperial palaces.[6]
Bronze lanterns
Bronze lanterns, or kondō-dōrō (
Many have been designated as Cultural Properties of Japan by the Japanese government. The one in front of Tōdai-ji's Daibutsuden for example has been declared a National Treasure.[7] Kōfuku-ji has in its museum one built in 816 and which is also a National Treasure.
Stone lanterns
A dai-dōrō is most often made of stone, and in that case it is called ishi-dōrō (
Structure of a stone lantern
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The traditional components of a stone (or bronze) lantern are, from top to bottom:[3]
- Hōju or hōshu (
宝珠 , lit. jewel) - The onion-shaped part at the very top of the finial.
- Ukebana (請花, lit. receiving flower)
- The lotus-shaped support of the hōshu.
- Kasa (
笠 , lit. umbrella) - A conical or pyramidal umbrella covering the fire box. The corners may curl upwards to form the so-called warabide (
蕨 手 ). - Hibukuro (
火袋 , lit. fire sack) - The fire box where the fire is lit.
- Chūdai (
中台 , lit. central platform) - The platform for the fire box.
- Sao (
竿 , lit. post) - The post, typically oriented vertically and either circular or square in cross-section, possibly with a corresponding "belt" near its middle; occasionally also formed as a sideways coin or disk, as a set of tall thin lotus petals, or as between one and four arched legs (in "snow-viewing" lanterns); absent in hanging lanterns.
- Kiso (
基礎 , lit. foundation) - The base, usually rounded or hexagonal, and absent in a buried lantern (see below).
- Kidan (
基壇 , lit. base platform)[6] - A variously shaped slab of rock sometimes present under the base.
As already mentioned, the lantern's structure is meant to symbolize the five elements of Buddhist cosmology. With the sole exception of the fire box, any parts may be absent. For example, an oki-dōrō, or movable lantern (see below) lacks a post, and rests directly on the ground. It also may lack an umbrella.
Types of stone lantern
Stone lanterns can be classified in five basic groups, each possessing numerous variants.
Pedestal lanterns
Tachidōrō (
- Kasuga-dōrō (
春日 灯籠 )
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Named after Kasuga-taisha, it is a very common at both temples and shrines. The umbrella is small and has either six or eight sides with warabite at the corners. The fire box is either hexagonal or square with carvings representing deer, the sun or the moon. Tall and thin, it is often found near the second torii of a shrine.[3]
- Yūnoki-dōrō (
柚ノ木 灯篭 )
The second oldest stone lantern in Japan, found at Kasuga Shrine, is a yūnoki-dōrō or citron tree stone lantern.[9] This style goes back to at least as the Heian period. The post has rings carved at the bottom, middle and top, and the hexagonal base and middle platform are carved with lotuses. The umbrella is simple and has neither warabite nor an ukebana.[1] The yunoki seems to stem from a citron tree that used to stand near the lantern at Kasuga Shrine.[9] This type of lantern became popular in tea house gardens during the Edo Period.
Buried lanterns
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Kakekomidourou.jpg/220px-Kakekomidourou.jpg)
Ikekomi-dōrō (
- Oribe-dōrō (
織部 灯籠 )
This common type is named after Furuta Shigenari, a nobleman popularly known as Oribe, who designed it to be used in gardens.[10] The fire box is a cube with a window on each side: the front and rear are square, the right and left are shaped as a crescent moon and the full moon respectively. The umbrella is small and four-sided.
- Kirishitan-dōrō (キリシタン
灯籠 )
This is simply an oribe-dōrō with hidden Christian symbols. This style was born during the persecution of the Christian religion in Japan, when many continued to practice their faith in secret.[10] [note 2]
- Mizubotaru-dōrō (
水 蛍 燈籠 )
A typical ikekomi-dōrō, its fire box has square openings on two facing sides and double-triangle openings on the other two. This type of lantern is used at the Katsura Villa in Kyoto. The roof is square and rounded.[10]
Movable lanterns
Oki-dōrō (
- Sankō-dōrō (
三光 灯籠 )
This lantern is just a small stone box with a low roof. Its name, "Three Lights Lantern" is due to its windows, shaped like the sun and the moon in the front and rear, and like a star at the ends.[10] This type of lanterns is usually placed near water. It can be found in the garden of the Katsura Villa.
Yukimi-dōrō
Yukimi-dōrō (
It was probably developed during the Momoyama period, but the oldest extant examples, found at the Katsura Villa in Kyoto, go back only to the early Edo period (seventeenth century).[8]
Nozura-dōrō
Nozura dōrō (
Gallery
Hanging lanterns
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A votive hanging lantern
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A hexagonal hanging lantern
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Hanging lantern at Fushimi Inari Shrine
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Hanging lanterns lit at Kasuga-taisha
Bronze lanterns
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Bronze lantern at Hōryū-ji
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Bronze lantern at Tōdai-ji (National Treasure)
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Bronze lantern at Nikkō Tōshō-gū
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Bronze lantern at Itsukushima Shrine
Stone lanterns
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Tachi-dōrō of the kasuga-dōrō type
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A kirishitan-dōrō
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Ikekomi-dōrō of the Kirishitan-dōrō type
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An oki-dōrō
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A nozura-dōrō
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A kaku-dōrō (
角 灯籠 , square lantern) -
A stone lantern in Korea
Yukimi-dōrō variants
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Four legged yukimi-dōrō
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Three legged yukimi-dōrō. One leg rests on ground, two in water.
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Two-legged yukimi-dōrō
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One-legged yukimi-dōrō
See also
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ "
灯篭 " is just a simplified form of "灯籠 ". - ^ For details, see the article Kakure Kirishitan.
Citations
- ^ a b c "Teien no Go-annai - Tōrō" (in Japanese). Kuwayama Museum. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ^ a b c "Japanese Stone Lanterns" (PDF). The Huntington, Library, Art collections and Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d Iwanami Kōjien (
広辞苑 ) Japanese dictionary, 6th Edition (2008), DVD version - ^ "Tōrō". Shogakukan Encyclopedia on line (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Five Element Pagodas, Stupas, Steles, Gravestones". Onmark Productions. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ a b "Tōrō". JAANUS. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Kokuhō Jūyō Bunkazai -
金銅 燈籠 " (in Japanese). Kōfuku-ji. Retrieved 22 April 2010. - ^ a b c d e f "Onrain Tenjijō" (in Japanese). Yamamoto Sekigei. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ a b "Glossary". Japanese Gardens. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Japanese Lanterns". Japanese gardening. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
External links
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Stone lantern catalogue, accessed on April 20, 2010