Hōkyōintō

A hōkyōintō and its parts

A hōkyōintō (宝篋印塔) is a Japanese pagoda, so called because it originally contained the Hōkyōin (宝篋印) dharani (陀羅尼) sūtra.^[1] A Chinese variant of the Indian stūpa, it was originally conceived as a cenotaph of the King of Wuyue - Qian Liu.^[1]

Structure and function

Usually made in stone and occasionally metal or wood, hōkyōintō started to be made in their present form during the Kamakura period.^[1] Like a gorintō, they are divided in five main sections called (from the bottom up) kaeribanaza (反花座), or "inverted flower seat", kiso (基礎), or base, tōshin (塔身), or body, kasa (笠), or umbrella, and sōrin (相輪), or pagoda finial.^[1] The tōshin is the most important part of the hōkyōintō and is carved with a Sanskrit letter.^[2] The 'sōrin has the same shape as the tip of a five-storied pagoda.^[2] The kasa can also be called yane (屋根), or roof.^[2] It's decorated with four characteristic wings called mimikazari (耳飾)^[1] or sumikazari (隅飾).^[2] Different structures exist, and the hōkyōintō property of the Yatsushiro Municipal Museum in Kyushu for example is divided in just four parts, with no kaeribanaza.^[2]

The sūtra contain all the pious deeds of a Tathagata Buddha, and the faithful believe that praying in front of a hōkyōintō their sins will be canceled, during their lives they will be protected from disasters and after death they will go to heaven.^[2]

The hōkyōintō tradition in Japan is old and is believed to have begun during the Asuka period (550–710 CE).^[2] They used to be made of wood and started to be made in stone only during the Kamakura period.^[2] It is also during this period that they started to be used also as tombstones and cenotaphs.^[2]

Notes

1. 1 2 3 4 5 Iwanami Kōjien Japanese dictionary
2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Yatsushiro Municipal Museum

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hōkyōintō.

• Iwanami Kōjien (広辞苑) Japanese dictionary Sixth Edition, DVD Version (Japanese)
• Shinkō no Katachi - Hōkyōintō, Yatsushiro Municipal Museum, accessed on September 18, 2008 (Japanese)
• "Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大係), online version". Hatakeyama Shigeyasu no Haka (in Japanese). Heibonsha. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 

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  Hōkyōintō at Ishiyama-dera (Otsu)
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  Hōkyōintō at Onsen-ji (Toyooka)
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  Hōjō Masako's Hōkyōintō (Kamakura)
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  Hōkyōintō at Mizuma-dera near Osaka
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  Hokyoin-to in Sensō-ji. It provides evidence of casting techniques used in the 18th century

Elements of Japanese architecture
Styles	Buddhist Buke Daibutsuyō Gassho Giyōfū Hachiman Hirairi Hiyoshi (Hie) Irimoya Ishi-no-ma Kasuga Kibitsu Nagare Ōbaku Zen Setchūyō Shinden Shinmei Shinto Shoin Sukiya Sumiyoshi Taisha Wayō Zenshūyō	Model of Himeji Castle
Types of building	Butsuden Castle Chashitsu Dō Haiden Heiden Hokora Hōkyōintō Kura Kyōzō Machiya Main Hall Minka Setsumatsusha Shōrō Tahōtō Japanese pagoda Yagura
Roof styles	Hidden Irimoya Karahafu
Structural	Burdock piling Chigi Disordered piling Engawa Fusuma Hisashi Irimoya-zukuri Irori Jinmaku Katōmado Katsuogi Kuruwa Mokoshi Moya Nakazonae Namako wall Nightingale floor Onigawara Ranma Shōji (washi) Sōrin Tamagaki Tatami Tokonoma Tokyō Tsumairi Shibi
Gates Approaches	Genkan Kairō Karamon Mon Nijūmon Niōmon Rōmon Sandō Sanmon Sōmon Torii (Mihashira)
Rooms	Chashitsu Daidokoro Mizuya Shoin Toilets Washitsu
Furnishings	Butsudan Byōbu Chabudai Emakimono Furo Futon Getabako Kaidan dansu Kamado Kamidana Kichō Kotatsu Misu Noren Sudare Tamaya Tansu Zabuton Zafu
Outdoor objects	Chōzuya (Temizuya) Ishigantō Komainu Tōrō
Measurements	Ken Koku Ri Shaku Sun
Organizations	Architectural Institute of Japan Japan Institute of Architects Metabolist Movement
Related topics	Groups of Traditional Buildings Iki Japanese garden (rock (Zen)) Ryokan Sentō Wabi-sabi Yabo National Treasures Castles Residences Shrines Temples Other structures