Item description - YO01010191
Stone lanterns, Ishidōrō (石灯籠) in Japanese, are without a doubt the most characteristic part of the traditional Japanese garden. The phenomenon originated from China more than a thousand years ago, from there it spread to Korea and eventually was integrated into Japanese culture as well. All Japanese holy sites, such as Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, use stone lanterns as sacred light sources. During the 16th century, stone lanterns became very popular among Japanese tea masters and they were used to light the path through the tea garden leading towards the tea house. Ever since then, one or multiple stone lanterns are featured in almost every traditional Japanese garden.

A Japanese stone lantern is made up of multiple independent parts that need to be carefully stacked on top of each other to create a perfectly balanced lantern.

The Oribe Gata Ishidōrō (織部型石灯籠) is the most characteristic lantern that has to be partly buried, perhaps beter known as Ikekomi lanterns in Japanese. The Oribe Gata has a unique Christian background, with there usually being Christian symbols carved into the pillar. During the Edo period, the age of the Samurai, Christianity was prohibited across Japan. As the Oribe Gata was partly buried, the Christian symbols were hidden from the eyes of the authorities.

The Oribe Gata lantern was designed by Furuta Oribe (古田織部), a very well-known Daimyō and teamaster that was quite influential during the early Edo period. The lantern was named after him.

Specifications
• Origin: Nagoya, Aichi prefecture
• Material: Hirukawa stone (蛭川石)
• Age: Edo Period

Models and sizes     | Show extra info...     | Show shipping info...