Five-story pagoda - Goju-no-to

Japanese: 五重塔 - ごじゅうのとう

It is a five-story pagoda, typical of the architectural style of large Japanese temples. The first story has four heavenly pillars at the four corners, and a room called the inner sanctuary houses Buddhist statues and murals. The second and higher stories are hollow and do not form rooms. The roof of the top story has a spire in the center and is decorated with jewels, water sprays, and nine rings. Most of the pagodas are made of wood, and some have architectural designs such as a mokoshi (a raised staircase). They are beautifully balanced architecture and are considered masterpieces in art history. The oldest surviving pagoda is the five-story pagoda at Horyu-ji Temple (from the Hakuho period, total height 32.5m). Architecturally, it is noteworthy that it is earthquake-resistant despite being a tall wooden pagoda. This is said to be due to the special structure of the central pillar. In ancient times, the central pillar was set directly on the foundation stone, and the whole structure was suspended, but since the Kamakura period, many of the central pillars have been set up from above the first floor, and in the Edo period, the central pillar was even suspended from above. These are thought to adjust the natural vibration period of the tower and to mechanically dissipate the vibration energy caused by earthquakes, and are evaluated and studied as architectural engineering gained from experience.

Five-story pagoda

A novella by Koda Rohan. Serialised in the newspaper "Kokkai" from November 1891 to March 1892. The story follows the journey of Jubei, a carpenter nicknamed "Slow" for his exceptional skill but stupidity, as he competes with Genta of Kawagoe for the construction of a five-story pagoda at Kan'on-ji Temple in Yanaka, Edo, and the twists and turns he faces in the process until the pagoda is finally completed, despite various obstacles. The unique and beautiful prose portrayal of a ruthless subject that goes beyond the realm of obligation and human feelings opened up new possibilities in Meiji literature, and it became a masterpiece for Rohan.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

5層の屋根をもつ層塔で，日本の大寺院建築様式の典型の一つ。初層は，四天柱を四隅とし，内陣といわれる部屋に，仏像，壁画などを安置する。2層以上は中空で，部屋を構成していない。最上層の屋根は中心に相輪を立て，宝珠，水煙，九輪などで飾られている。塔体はほとんどが木造で，裳階 (もこし) などの建築意匠をもつものもあり，全体に均整のとれた美しい建築で，美術史上の傑作とされている。現存のものでは法隆寺五重塔がいちばん古い建造とされている (白鳳時代。全高 32.5m) 。建築学的に注目されるのは，木造の高塔であるのに，耐震的に安定している点である。これは心柱の特殊な構造によるものとされる。古代のものは礎石上に直接心柱が立てられ，全体を吊る様式であったが，鎌倉時代以降のものは，初層の上から心柱を立てているものが多く，江戸時代には逆に上から宙吊りの心柱まで出現した。これらは塔の固有振動周期を調節し，力学的に地震による振動エネルギーを散らす働きをするものと考えられ，経験的に得られた建築工学として評価，研究されている。

五重塔
ごじゅうのとう

幸田露伴の中編小説。 1891年 11月～92年3月，新聞『国会』連載。腕は抜群だが愚鈍なため「のっそり」とあだ名される大工十兵衛が，江戸谷中の感応寺五重塔建立の仕事を川越の源太と争い，さまざまな妨害にも屈せず，ついに完成するまでの屈曲を描く。義理人情の世界をこえる非情な主我を独特の名文で写して明治文学の新生面を開拓，露伴一代の名作となった。

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