The five-storied pagoda

The five-storied pagoda with a height of about 43 meters from the base to the Aiwa is the third tallest wooden tower in Japan. The five-storied pagoda, completed in 1902 (Meiji 35), is the fourth generation since it was repeatedly destroyed and burned down since its foundation. In the tower, the Gochi Nyorai (Five Buddhas), the central entity of esoteric thought, is enshrined. Four of them are enshrined on the ground floor, around the pillar. The eastern part is a white elephant, Asho Nyorai, the southern part is a horse-riding hosho, the west is a peacock, Amida Nyorai, and the northern part is a golden wing bird It is Fukujo Juyo. In addition, Gochi Nyorai’s Chuson Dainichi Nyorai (closed to the public) is enshrined in a kitchen on the fifth floor. This five-story pagoda has two features that are different from a typical wooden multistory tower. The first is that the ceilings on all five floors and all floors are raised so that people can stand and walk. Such a structure is unusual, and it was said that he could go up to the 5th floor and enjoy the view. Another feature is the “suspension method”. A pillar runs through the center of the tower. The pillar should be an important element supporting the whole tower, but the pillar of the five-storied pagoda at Zentsuji floats from the ground (foundation foundation stone). The pillars are suspended in chains on the fifth floor attic and are not structurally connected to other surrounding components. The structural role of this pillar has not yet been elucidated.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *