gojū-no-tō 五重塔

A five-storied pagoda usually 3 x 3 bays square with the central bays used as entrances. The corner bays most often contain a plastered wall with vertically mullioned windows *renjimado 連子窓. Pagodas of this type were constructed on a stone podium in the ancient period and on a wooden floor supported by posts placed on base stones in later periods. However, relatively few five-storied pagodas were built after the Heian period. The stories above the first contain only structural members. The central pillar *shinbashira 心柱, at Hōryūji 法隆寺 in Nara, the oldest extant, built in the late 7th to early 8th century, was set over two meters below ground level. Later five-storied pagodas were set at ground level. The first story contains a one-bay square inner sanctuary *naijin 内陣 marked by four so-called guardian pillars *shiten-bashira 四天柱, a Buddhist altar with statues, and paintings that decorate the walls and structural members. In the Momoyama and Edo periods, a floor was laid on each story and the structural members were decorated. The central pillar was hung above the ceiling. Examples: Gojū-no-tō, Hōryūji and Daigoji 醍醐寺 (952) in Kyoto, which was constructed up from ground level. Kaijūsenji 海住山寺 (1214) in Kyoto. Rurikōji 瑠璃光寺 (1443) in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Proto-modern: Kyōōgokokuji 教王護国寺 (Tōji 東寺; 1644) in Kyoto; and Kan'eiji 寛永寺 (1631) in Tokyo.