Head Tower - Zuto

Japanese: 頭塔 - ずとう

A Nara period earthen pagoda located on a plateau in Todocho, Takabatake-cho, Nara City. Four smaller platforms are built in succession in the shape of a rectangular pyramid on a base 32m on a side and 1.2m high. The height to the top is about 10m, and the first platform can be restored to its original size of 24m on a side. A total of 13 stone Buddha statues are exposed on all four sides of each platform. An excavation survey in 1978 confirmed that the platforms were built on a base of vertically stacked natural stones. One new stone Buddha statue was discovered during the survey at that time. All of the stone Buddha statues are half-carved and depict the Tathagata Pure Land or the life of Buddha. They are placed about 50cm inside the stonework of the wall, and appear to have been constructed in the shape of a niche by combining stones.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

奈良市高畑町字頭塔町の台地上にある奈良時代の土塔。1辺32m，高さ1.2mの基壇の上に，順次に小さく4壇を方錐台形に築いたもので，頂部までの高さは約10mあり，第1壇は1辺24mに復原できる。各土壇の四面には計13基の石仏が露出している。1978年の発掘調査で，自然石を垂直に積み上げた基壇の上に土壇を築き上げたものであることが確認された。このときの調査で新たに石仏が1基発見された。石仏はいずれも半肉彫で如来浄土や仏伝などが表され，壁体の石組みより約50cm内側に置かれ，石を組み合わせて龕（がん）状に構築されたようである。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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