Keywords
Architecture
General Terms
Lit. ladle shape. Also read hishakugata or hisagogata 瓢形 (gourd pattern). The shape of the precious jewel *hōju 宝珠 placed at the top of a pagoda spire *sōrin 相輪. An example may be seen at the top of the spires of Yakushiji Tōtō 薬師寺東塔 (early 8th century); Hōryūji *Gojū-no-tō 法隆寺五重搭 (late 7th century-early 8th century) both in Nara; and at Kyōōgokokuji 教王護国寺 (Tōji 東寺; 1644) in Kyoto.