The Background of Stone Pagoda Construction in Ancient Japan

Abstract

In this study stone pagodas from ancient Japan (7th to 9th centuries) were analyzed. The findings show that there are some apparently influenced by the Korean Peninsula and two other types. While there are examples of the former type that are large and serve as temple buildings, the latter are located in mountain forest temples. I am of the opinion that stone pagodas were important mechanisms that made possible the existence of mountain forest temples as Mahayana precepts-based transgression repentance (keka 悔過) training sites that complemented flatland temples. This use of stone pagodas is different than China and Korea, which treated both wooden and stone pagodas in the same way. Moreover, ideas regarding Mahayana precepts-based transgression repentance were introduced from China, and I hold that the increase in stone pagodas at mountain forest temples corresponds to the Sinicization of Japanese Buddhism.

Keywords

• stone pagodas
• multistory pagodas
• Ishidōji 石塔寺
• Okamasu Ishindō 岡益石堂
• Rokutanji 鹿谷寺 temple ruins
• mountain forest temples (<i>sanrin jiin</i> 山林寺院)