hiage-ishi　灯上石

KEY WORD :　architecture / lanterns

Also kazari-ishi 飾石, hitomoshi-ishi 火灯石, tenka-ishi 点火石. Originally, the stone on which a flame was placed before it was put into a lantern as an offering to the deity. A small flat rock placed directly in front of the lantern. Even when the flame was not lit, the stone was set in its formal place at the base of the lantern. If the lantern was inserted directly into the earth, the position of its flame holder was generally low and there was no base dais *kidan 基壇; therefore there was no need for the hiage-ishi. In some cases, if the flame holder was particularly high, a stairway of stones was built around the stem of the lantern. This was not for use, but generally a decoration to honor the significance of the flame. In most cases these have been eliminated.

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