TORO & SOTO
Tôrô is a kind of lantern made of stone. Together with Sôtô, or pagoda, it plays an essential role in Japanese traditional garden-making. They both have a Buddhist origin and their parts and structure represent Buddhist cosmology.
photo (top) : 'Yukimi-Dôrô' movable lantern, 76cm height, in autumn leaves
Rojimono
Rojimono (露地物), are buried type of lanterns originally used in small Japanese gardens facing a traditional tea ceremony house.
'Oribe' style, 149cm. uses famous 'Taikôishi' granite, of Kyoto.
Hotarudôro, 76cm. Quoting a lantern existing at Katsura Imperial Villa.
Chôsendôro, 124cm. Made in Korea.
Oki-Dôro
Okidôrô (置き灯籠）are movable (if you are strong enough) type of lantern that are not fixed to the ground in any way.
'Tenkajaya' Okidôrô, 60cm. Made of 'Kitagiishi' granite, Okayama.
Yukimi (legged) Dôrô, ancient style. height 76cm.
'Sunshôan' Oki-Dôrô
height 46cm
height 46cm
Tachi-Dôro
Tachidôro (立ち灯籠), or pedestral lanterns are the most common type of Tôrô which you will find in many temples and shrines. It can be very tall.
Kasugadôro
height 180cm
height 180cm
Kôtôin Style Tôro in 'Kitagiishi' granite
height 173cm. quoting a gravestone of an old Seigneur located in Kôtôin temple, Kyoto.
height 173cm. quoting a gravestone of an old Seigneur located in Kôtôin temple, Kyoto.
Sôtô
Sôtô (層塔) are Buddhist pagoda. In Japan, they are multi-storied and made of wood or stone.
Five-Story Pagoda
with One Buddha on every side. 191cm.
with One Buddha on every side. 191cm.
Korean Three-Story Pagoda
Height 3m
Height 3m
Three-Story Pagoda
151cm.
151cm.
VISIT OUR STORE
Interested? We would strongly suggest you to pay a visit to our store in Tokyo where you may touch and taste the beauty of our stones in more natural surroundings. They show different faces depending on season, weather, and time. Company and access information can be found here.
CURIOUS ?
Our FAQ page is here.