A Study on Arrangement of the Garden Lantern in Byodo-in Garden

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify relationship of arrangements between the garden lantern and the buildings in Byodo-in garden. Garden lanterns, since ancient times, have been offered Buddhist tribute in center positions in front of the main temple building that enshrined some Buddhist statues. In this study, based on some examples of arrangements of garden lanterns in ancient Buddhist temples, it could be pointed out the following two features in arrangement of the garden lantern in front of Houo-do; (i) it was affected the arrangement of the garden lantern by that there spread the Aji-ike pond, (ii) as it was decided the location of the garden lantern of Byodo-in garden, it seems to have been considered the ratio of the distance between the lantern and two buildings, that is, Houo-do and Ko-gosho which had been located against Houo-do across the Aji-ike pond for resting or looking Houo-do but had already been lost. As a result, the arrangement of the garden lantern of Byodo-in garden was not only under the category of ancient Buddhist temples but also had an original feature. Furthermore, based on the considered above, it could be referred changes of arrangements of garden lanterns in the process which garden lanterns of ancient Buddhist temples had been accepted to Jodo temples.