The pagoda has been one of the most recognizable forms of Japanese architecture throughout history. These unique temples have stood the test of time and are often used as tourist attractions today.
A Japanese pagoda is a square tower that is usually part of a monastery used by Buddhist monks. It served as a temple and housed sacred relics. Each of its levels, ascending, is slightly smaller than the last, resulting in a pyramid-like structure that is topped by a spire.
Construction
Japanese pagodas are typically constructed from wood with interlocking beams and posts and a central column. The buildings are tall and slender and consist of five stories. The roofs boast wide overhangs, with clay tiles. Pagodas are extremely sturdy and are designed to absorb the movements of the earth, making them resistant to earthquakes and typhoons.
History
The pagoda was introduced to Japan from China, and was influenced by the Indian stupa. The Horyu-ji pagoda, near Nara, dates back to the late seventh century.
Symbolisim
The square shape symbolizes the earth. The center column is considered the "axle of the world" and the spire on top of the structure represents Buddha as master of the universe. Each level represents one of the five elements: wind, water, earth, fire and sky.
Visitors to Kyoto and Nara, Japan's ancient capitals, invariably retain in their memories the evocative silhouette of a wooden pagoda--at times towering gracefully above the tiled rooftops of an old neighborhood, at times rising abruptly from the midst of a huddle of modern buildings. Most people familiar with the Kansai region will know the stately five-story pagoda of Kyoto's Toji (Kyoo Gokokuji) temple, clearly visible from the Shinkansen bullet train, or the pagoda of Nara's Kofukuji, standing at the edge of Sarusawa Pond.
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