The two types of pagoda finial (sōrin), in bronze (tahōtō) and stone (hōkyōintō)
Thesōrin (相輪,lit. alternate rings) is the vertical shaft (finial) which tops aJapanese pagoda, whether made of stone or wood.[1][note 1] Thesōrin of a wooden pagoda is usually made of bronze and can be over 10 meters tall.[2] That of a stone pagoda is also of stone and less than a meter long. Thesōrin is divided in several sections possessing a symbolic meaning and, as a whole, in turn itself represents a pagoda.[3]
Thesōrin is supported by a long shaft, often obtained by joining two or even three shorter ones, that runs to the base of the edifice. Although it is often believed that the pillar at the core of a Japanese pagoda is a device to strengthen it against earthquakes, its sole purpose is to support the long and heavy bronzesōrin.[5] In many cases the central shaft doesn't reach the ground, but has its base somewhere above it within the pagoda, where it is supported by beam or other means. AtNikkō Tōshō-gū (1818), for example, it is suspended with chains from the fourth floor. From its base exits a longtenon which, penetrating amortise in a base stone (心礎,shinso), prevents it from oscillating. This structure was adopted not as a measure against earthquakes but because, with aging, the wood of the pagoda, whose grain is mostly horizontal, tends to shrink more than that of the vertical shaft, causing the opening of a gap between the two at the roof.[5] From the gap rain would enter, causing rot.
In other cases, this was done to allow the opening of a room at the ground floor and therefore create some usable space. (Early wooden pagodas had no usable space.)[6]
Thesōrin of a wooden pagoda is usually made of bronze and is divided in several segments called (from top to bottom):
TheJewel or gem (宝珠,hōju or hōshu), a spherical or tear-shaped object, shapes sacred to Buddhism. Believed to repel evil and fulfill wishes, it can be also found on top of pyramidal temple roofs, ofstone lanterns or of tall poles. It can have flames, in which case it is calledkaen hōju (火炎宝珠; flaming gem).[7] Those made before theMomoyama period tend to be rounder.
The dragon vehicle (竜車,ryūsha), the piece immediately below thehōju
The water flame (水煙,suien; lit. "water smoke"), consisting of four decorative sheets of metal set at 90° to each other and installed over the top of the main pillar of a pagoda.[8]
Thefūtaku (風鐸; lit. "wind bell"), small bells attached to the edges of asōrin's rings or of thesuien.[2]
The nine rings (九輪,kurin), the largest component of thesōrin. In spite of their name, there can sometimes be only eight or even seven of them.[9]
Theukebana (受花・請花; lit. "receiving flower"), a circle of upturnedlotus petals, usually eight in number. There can also be another circle of petals facing down.[10]
The inverted bowl (伏鉢,fukubachi), which sits between theukebana and theroban.
The base or dew basin (露盤,roban; lit. "external bowl"), on which rests the entire finial. Because it covers the top of the roof in order to prevent leaks, it normally has as many sides as the roof itself (four, six or eight).[11]
The most important stone pagoda having a finial is thehōkyōintō. Usually made in stone and occasionally metal or wood,hōkyōintō started to be made in their present form during theKamakura period. Like agorintō, they are divided in five main sections, of which thesōrin is the uppermost.[12] Its components are, from the top down:[13]
Hōju
Ukebana
Kurin
Ukebana
Roban.
The sōrin sits on the kasa (笠; umbrella) oryane (屋根; roof), a stepped pyramid with four wings at the corners calledmimikazari (耳飾) orsumikazari (隅飾).[13]
^Pagodas can be made of wood or stone, and the two types are very different. Stone pagodas like thehōkyōintō are always small compared to wooden ones (usually below three meters), and offer little or no usable space inside. For details, see the articleTō
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