Sightseeing Nikko - the story of the Sohrintoh Tower

In Nikko, near the Sanbutsu-doh Hall from the Rinno-ji Temple (photos), you can see the Sohrintoh Tower, a bronze tower built in 1643 by the priest Tenkai.

1000 volumes of Buddhist Holy Scriptures are stored under this tower, and on the 13.2-meter tall tower, decorated with 24 bells, we can see engraved the mon (crest) of the Tokugawa family, 3 hollyhocks:

Sohrintoh Tower was initially built at the Toshougu Shrine (photo) and in 1650 it was moved near the Futarasan Shrine (photo). In 1875, after the Meiji law regarding the separation of Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples, it was moved again, on its current location.

I think that in the past it was more spectacular, but today it looks cold and dull, the bronze is oxidized, greenish, and the 24 bells aren’t shining anymore.

Another interesting object, right near the tower, is a lantern, Itowappu Tourou, donated by the local population as thanks to Tokugawa Ieyasu for the privilege of silk trading (Itowappu was the permission to trade silk).

Lantern detail:

Lângă Sanbutsu-doh Hall de la templul Rinno-ji (foto) din Nikko, se află Sohrintoh Tower, un turn din bronz construit de preotul Tenkai în anul 1643.

Sub turn sunt păstrate o mie de volume de scripturi budhiste. Pe stâlpul de 13,2 metri înălţime şi decorat cu 24 de clopote, este gravat simbolul heraldic (mon) al familiei Tokugawa, trei nalbe:

Sohrintoh Tower a fost iniţial construit la altarul Toshougu (foto), apoi mutat în 1650 lângă altarul Futarasan (foto). În 1875 a fost mutat din nou, pe locaţia actuală, ca urmare a legii dată de Meiji de separare a templelor de altare.

În trecut a fost probabil mult mai spectaculos, astăzi mi s-a părut cam rece. Bronzul a oxidat, este de culoare verzuie, iar cele 24 de clopote aurite nu mai strălucesc ca pe timpuri.

Lângă turn se află un felinar (Itowappu Tourou) donat de ţăranii din zonă drept mulţumire pentru privilegiul dat de Tokugawa Ieyasu de a face comerţ cu mătase.