Perhaps you’ve noticed this stone structure. Here before us stands the \u591a\u91cd\u5854\uff08\u5341\u4e00\u91cd\uff09 Stele. It is a multi-storied pagoda. These pagodas derive historically from the Chinese pagoda. This type is itself an interpretation of the Indian stupa.
Pagodas were originally reliquaries. However, they often lost this function over time. Quintessentially Buddhist, pagodas are important in Japanese Buddhist temple compounds. Before 1868, Shinto shrines were normally also Buddhist temples. Thus, pagodas are not rare at shrines either.
Of the Japanese pagoda’s many forms, some are built in wood. These are known as mokut\u014d. Most, however, are carved out of stone. Stone pagodas are called sekit\u014d. Wood pagodas are large buildings with either two or an odd number of stories. Stone pagodas are nearly always small. They usually stand well below 3 meters. Stone pagodas offer no usable space. If they have more than one story, they are called tas\u014dt\u014d or taj\u016bt\u014d. That is what we see here at the \u591a\u91cd\u5854\uff08\u5341\u4e00\u91cd\uff09 Stele.
The stupa was originally a simple mound. It contained the Buddha’s ashes. In time, it became more elaborate. After reaching China, the stupa met the Chinese watchtower. It then evolved into the pagoda. This is a tower with an odd number of stories. Its use then spread to Korea and, from there, to Japan. Following its arrival in Japan with Buddhism in the 6th century, the pagoda became a focal point. It was central to the early Japanese garan. In Japan, it evolved in shape, size, and function. It finally lost its original role as a reliquary. While rare on the Asian continent, it became extremely common here.
With the birth of new sects in later centuries, the pagoda lost importance. Consequently, it was relegated to the margins of the garan. Temples of the J\u014ddo sects rarely have a pagoda. During the Kamakura period, the Zen sect arrived in Japan. Their temples do not normally include a pagoda.
Pagodas originally were reliquaries. They did not contain sacred images. But in Japan, many enshrine statues of various deities. To allow the opening of a room at the ground floor, the pagoda’s central shaft was shortened. Originally, it reached the ground. It was shortened to the upper stories. There, it rested on supporting beams.
Old pagodas had a stone base. This is the shinso. The main pillar stood over it. This is the shinbashira. Around it, the first storey’s supporting pillars were erected. Then came the beams supporting the eaves and so on. The other stories would be built over the completed one. On top of the main pillar, the finial would be inserted at last. In later eras, all of the supporting structures would be erected at once. Later, parts of more cosmetic function were fixed to them.
Stone pagodas are usually made of materials like apatite or granite. They are much smaller than wooden ones. They are also finely carved. Often, they bear Sanskrit inscriptions. They also bear Buddhist figurines and Japanese lunar calendar dates. Like wooden ones, they are mostly classifiable by the number of stories. The \u591a\u91cd\u5854\uff08\u5341\u4e00\u91cd\uff09 Stele, with its eleven stories, fits this description.
Tas\u014dt\u014d have an odd number of stories. These normally range between three and thirteen. They are usually less than three meters tall. But, they can occasionally be much taller. They are often dedicated to Buddha. They offer no usable room. Some have a small space inside. This space holds a sacred image.
As you continue your journey, remember the enduring presence of the \u591a\u91cd\u5854\uff08\u5341\u4e00\u91cd\uff09 Stele. It is a silent witness to the ebb and flow of time. It connects us to the spiritual and artistic heritage of Japan.