oribe dōrō 織灯籠

Keywords
Architecture
Lanterns

A small lantern used to light pathways. It is baseless and inserted directly into the earth. On top is a spherical jewel *hōju 宝珠 with a sharp end point. The canopy is square with a square flame holder and sun and moon designs carved on two sides. The stem is 4 sided with Christian symbolism carved into it. On the front of the stem, the letters IHS are carved together with an Lhq symbol. Oribe dōrō from the Edo period can be found in various areas. Also called *kirishitan dōrō キリシタン灯籠. After Francis Xavier landed at Kagoshima in 1549, his missionary work increased and was widely disseminated throughout Japan under daimyō 大名 protection. However, during the Edo period, the Christians were persecuted and forced into hiding. Since they were forbidden to openly worship statutes of Christ or Mary, it is thought that they transposed their worship to other carved images, marking them with secret symbols which were only understood by the initiated. Oribe dōrō are examples of this.