Why is this stone pillar shaped like a hexagon? This is the \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a. It stands at a crossroads in Tokyo. It is not just any crossroads. This is where the old Tokorozawa and Kamakura streets meet.
Let me tell you about the \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a. The name might sound complex. But its purpose was simple. It served as a guide and protector for travelers. It was built in 1779. Each of its six sides features a carved Jizo. Jizo is a Bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas vow to save all beings.
Each side of the \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a also shows the direction of a road. These roads include the Nanazawa, Maezawa, and Tokorozawa Roads. Also shown are the Koya, Hoya, and Edo Roads. It acted like an old-time navigation system.
The \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a is more than a simple road marker. People believed it could save them. It could rescue them from the six realms of existence. These realms include hell and hunger. They also include the realms of animals, demons, humans, and heavenly beings.
Originally, the \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a stood on the north side of Tokorozawa Street. In 1985, it was moved to its current location. During this move, its orientation was changed by 180 degrees. This means the directions are not perfectly accurate today.
The \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a is now a designated cultural asset of Nishitokyo City. It reminds us of the Edo period. It shows us how people traveled and what they believed.
The term “Sekido” refers to stone structures. These structures often feature carvings of six or eight sets of pagoda shapes. These carvings are often found in stone structures. Stone pagodas became popular in China. They eventually made their way to Japan. From the Kamakura period onward, these pagodas became objects of worship. Six-sided pagodas are common. They are often called six-sided pagodas due to their shape.
So, as you stand before the \u77f3\u5e62\u516d\u89d2\u5730\u8535\u5c0a, remember its history. It was a guide, protector, and a symbol of faith. It connects us to a past. This past shaped the roads we walk today.