Gorintō
Japanese funerary pagoda / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Gorintō?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Gorintō (五輪塔) ("five-ringed tower") is a Japanese type of Buddhist pagoda believed to have been first adopted by the Shingon and Tendai sects during the mid Heian period.[1] It is used for memorial or funerary purposes[2] and is therefore common in Buddhist temples and cemeteries. It is also called gorinsotōba or gorinsotoba (五輪卒塔婆) ("five-ringed stupa") or goringedatsu (五輪解脱),[2][3] where the term sotoba is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word stupa.[4] The stupa was originally a structure or other sacred building containing a relic of Buddha or of a saint,[5] then it was gradually stylized in various ways and its shape can change quite a bit according to the era and to the country where it is found.[3] Often offertory strips of wood with five subdivisions and covered with elaborate inscriptions also called sotoba can be found at tombs in Japanese cemeteries (see photo below).[2] The inscriptions contain sūtra texts and the posthumous name of the dead person. These can be considered stupa variants.