Stone Lanterns

石灯籠 Ishi-doro

Ishi-doro means stone lanterns in Japanese. Stone lanterns are often found on the grounds of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, or as ornamental elements that consist Japanese gardens. They play an important role to create traditional Japanese atmosphere.

It is thought that stone lanterns were introduced to Japan from China via Korean Peninsula in the process of the Buddhism's influx. In China's 山西省 Shanxi Province, there is a stone lantern presumed to be the country's oldest one created more than 1,400 years ago. On the other hand, Japan's oldest one is in 當麻寺 Taimadera Temple in 奈良県 Nara Prefecture and thought to be around 1,300 years old. There is an obvious similarity in the designs between the two lanterns.

In Buddhism, lights stand for the wisdom to be released from the world of illusion filled with worldly sins. In other words, they are the guideposts to the state of "悟り satori," translated as "enlightenment" in English, in which a person is completely free from agonies of desires. Therefore lights themselves came to be objects to worship in Buddhism.

The most common style of stone lantern in Japan, 春日灯籠 Kasuga-doro, consists of several parts of meaningful designs in Buddhism. The ball-shaped object on top is 如意宝珠 Nyoi-hoju, Cintamani or the Jewel, which is believed to make wishes true at will often held by some popular Buddhist characters in Japan such as 観音菩薩 Kannon-bosatsu (Avalokitesvara) and 地蔵菩薩 Jizo-bosatsu (Ksitigarbha). 火袋 hibukuro, the lighting case, is the most important part in the middle of the body. On the sides of hibukuro, there are often the designs of the sun, crescent moon, and sometimes stars, which together stand for the eternal lights shining night and day. The petals of a lotus flower, the symbol of enlightenment, are incorporated into the designs of the supporting bases under Nyoi-hoju and the main pillar.

Under the strong influence of Buddhism, stone lanterns were later incorporated in shrines of Shintoism, an indeginous religion in Japan. They thought flame has a power to purify everything burning uncleanliness away. There are also other symbolic meanings of flame such as cooking for holy spirits or to grow new lives, showing sacred area to turn evil spirits away, and so on.

Around the 16th century, stone lanterns started to be placed in the gardens of tea houses as lightings for paths in the evening. Japanese tea masters particularly loved the items with "sabi" feelings, a sense of beauty felt in things suggesting their long history such as mossy rocks. Then, aged stone lanterns from old temples and shrines were one of the ideal items for them to create the world they wanted. This preference was later succeeded to the creation of Japanese stroll gardens that became popular among 大名 daimyo, provincial lords, through the peaceful Edo period (1603-1867).

Today, many kinds of stone lanterns can be seen throughout Japan and they are necessary items to add Japanese tastes to the scenery. It is fun to appreciate the beauty, meanings, and history of stone lanterns in Japan.

・川勝政太郎「灯籠・手水鉢」誠文堂新光社

・山本成一郎「英訳付きニッポンの名前図鑑　日本建築・生活道具」淡交社