Tower

Japanese: 塔 - とう

A structure that is extremely tall compared to its size. Many were created for monumental or religious purposes, beginning with the erection of natural stone pillars and developing through the combination of artistic desire and technology. They were particularly common during the heyday of medieval religion, and in Western Europe they were connected to churches and built on the sanctuary or west facade, characterizing the styles of each era, and in Italy they became independent as bell towers. Similarly, in Islamic countries, unique minarets were created. In Buddhist countries, the construction of stupas originated from the worship of Buddha's relics, and developed into tall towers that became the center of Buddhist faith. In Japan, too, towers were limited to Buddhist pagodas, and were made of wood or stone until Western architecture was introduced in the Meiji period. Most large temple towers were wooden, and multi-tiered towers such as three-story and five-story pagodas and pagodas were common, while stone towers were often small, such as pagodas with a treasure box or five-ring pagodas, built as memorial towers or tombs.
→Related items Asuka-dera style temple layout | Water smoke | Daikandai-ji Temple | Treasure pagoda

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

平面の大きさに比して著しく高い建造物。記念碑的なものあるいは宗教的意図から生まれたものが多く，自然石柱を立てることに始まり，造形意欲と技術との結合によって発展した。特に中世の宗教全盛時代に多く，西欧では教会堂と結びついて，内陣，西正面等に建てられ，各時代の様式を特徴づけたほか，イタリアでは鐘塔として独立。同様にイスラム圏ではミナレットとして独自のものが作られた。仏教国では仏舎利崇拝を起源とするストゥーパの築造に始まり，高塔に発展して仏教信仰の中心となった。日本でも明治期に西洋建築が入ってくるまで，塔は仏塔に限られ，木や石を材料として作られた。寺院の大塔としては木造塔が多く，三重塔や五重塔等の多層塔と多宝塔が普通で，石塔は宝篋(ほうきょう)印塔や五輪塔等供養塔や墓塔として作られた小規模のものが多い。
→関連項目飛鳥寺式伽藍配置｜水煙｜大官大寺｜宝塔

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