hyakumantou　百万塔

KEY WORD :　architecture / buildings & structures

Lit. one million pagodas. Wooden, miniature, three-storied, circular, memorial pagodas wrought on a lathe for Empress Kouken 考謙, who first reigned from 749-58. She was succeeded by Emperor Junnin 淳仁, from 758-64. After deposing Emperor Junnin, the Empress Kouken change her name to Shoutoku 称徳, and reigned again from 764-70. As Empress Shoutoku had pledged, the creation of one million small wooden votive pagodas begun in 764 were ready for distribution in 770. The one million pagodas were sent to the ten great temples. Most of the miniature pagodas were created from a single block of wood. The finial *sourin 相輪, was made separately, also on a lathe. A hollow space was bored into the main part of each miniature pagoda under the finial in order to enshrine one scroll of the Darani 陀羅尼, which represents a state of mind, in which the five senses, play an important part. There are four types of Darani scrolls that were taught in the MUKUJOUKOU DARANIKYOU 無垢浄光陀羅尼経. They are the Konpon Darani, 根本陀羅尼, Sourin Darani 相輪陀羅尼, Jishin-in Darani 自心印陀羅尼, Rokudo Darani 六度陀羅尼. These scrolls were printed with wooden blocks or copper plates. They are believed to be among the oldest extant printed material in the world. The pagodas vary in size. Some are less than 30cm tall. Originally, they were colored with red and white paint. The maker's name and date of production was often inscribed on the underside of the podium *kidan 基壇. Many have disappeared, but Houryuuji 法隆寺 in Nara still owns 43,900 in good condition.

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