本文
Stone lanterns, Wakamiya Hachimangū shrine
Stone lanterns, Wakamiya Hachimangū shrine
Municipally Designated Important Cultural Property (designated 2004)
Made: Dedicated in 1778 (An'ei 7)
Location: Wakamiya Hachimangū shrine, Shirimi, Oku
Dimensions: Height: 3.6m
A pair of stone lanterns measuring 3.6m in height flank the front entrance of the haiden (hall of worship) of Wakamiya Hachimangū shrine.
The tall, distinctively arched pedestals of these lanterns are topped by fire boxes, intricately carved in the shape of palaces, complete with realistic roof tiles and eaves. The most distinguishing feature is its spire. Depicting a cloud and pair of dragon figures, it is far more elaborate than the ball or tear-drop design typical for most such stone lanterns.
Based on commemorative inscriptions in the stone, it was donated in 1778 by someone believed to have been a merchant in Shirimi with business connections in Satsuma (modern Kagoshima prefecture, south Japan). It is likely through this connection that these lanterns came to be made from an unlikely material; it has been confirmed that the stone used in their construction was Tantado, from Kagoshima Prefecture.
