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Undaunted by disasters, a landmark of Kyoto |
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As well as being the symbol of Toji Temple, it is also known as a landmark of Kyoto. Standing 55 meters tall, it is the tallest pagoda in Japan. Inside, all the walls, doors and ceilings are painted in brilliant colors characteristic of the esoteric Shingon sect. It is said that Kobo Daishi brought a remnant of the Buddha’s bones back from Tang Dynasty China and that it is enshrined here in the pagoda, which is dedicated to the Shingon sect's view of the universe known as Kongokaishibutsu. The pagoda has been burnt down four times, as a result of accidents such as being struck by lightning, but it was rebuilt each time. The present pagoda was rebuilt by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1644, and is the fifth one to stand on this spot. In order to protect it from another occurrence of this type of fire, it now has a lightning rod fitted. If struck by lightning, the electric current would ordinarily pass through the structure, starting a fire; then a sudden expansion of water and air in the columns caused by the heat could make the pagoda collapse. The lightning rod has been installed on the crown of the pagoda with an earth line running down to the ground, which will divert most of the current into the ground so preventing a disaster. It is notable that the pagoda has never collapsed during an earthquake, due to its earthquake-resistant construction: each successive storey is lighter than the one below, allowing the shock of the earthquake to be absorbed. The interior of the pagoda is not normally open to the public, but from the 1st through the 5th of January and in the spring and autumn each year, there are special periods of about a week when the pagoda is open to visitors. |
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| Five-storied Pagoda |
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