In Tokyo, too, the Sumida River has a large Toro Nagashi gathering to celebrate people who lost their lives in the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923. This is also why you’ll see bigger events at Hiroshima as ten thousand toros are put out onto the water. The first large-scale Toro Nagashi took place in 1946 to commemorate all of the lives lost during World War II. You might see or hear Toro Nagashi being called The Festival of Recovery. Families then gather to the graves of their relatives, leave food offerings and talk to them about what’s been happening that year, new jobs, new babies, marriages, etc. The idea behind the lanterns is that people’s ancestors will be able to find their way home easily. To refill the wick, there is no drawer but a partial opening instead to allow for easy refilling. These types of Japanese lanterns are tube-shaped. They are typically square or rectangular with a carry handle at the top and a draw at the bottom for easy refilling of the wick. These were used mainly for nighttime activities like sewing and reading. The Oki Andon is another indoor paper lantern. Candles would have been too expensive back then oil was much cheaper. These were made from wood and paper and lit with oil. These might actually be the cause of more deaths than samurai swords! Ariake Andon lanterns were cube-shaped lanterns that were used in the home as a nightlight. Not all Japanese lanterns were made for the outdoors. Nowadays, they have electric lights inside but traditionally, they were lit with a cotton wick that soaked up oil. They’re usually hung by a handle or hook at the top. These lanterns are made from bamboo that’s coiled into a spiral shape. What’s great about chochin is that they’re made to be folded flat, which shows just how forward-thinking Japanese designers were as far back as 1000 years ago. They are used for decorations in businesses, temples, and shrines. Chochin have been made in Japan since the 11 th century. The Japanese word Chochin refers to a specific type of lantern made of paper. You’ll find these lanterns in izakaya, which are informal bars that serve snacks and alcoholic drinks. There are lots of different types of Japanese lanterns made of paper. You’ll still see paper lanterns being used these days but they’re not so much of a necessity and more of a decoration now. Japanese Paper Lanternsīefore electricity was invented, it was common to see Japanese people using paper lanterns as lights during darkness. It contains many bronze and stone lanterns from this period and they’re enveloped in beautiful surroundings. For lanterns from the following era (the Heian period from 794 to 1185), you’re best visiting Kasuga-taisa, which is a Shinto shrine in Nara. It is predicted to have been created at some time between 710 and 974 (the Nara period). In this temple is a primitive stone lantern. If you’re looking for old lanterns, Katsuragi in the Nara prefecture is home to a Buddhist temple called Taima-dera. Notable bronze lanterns can be found at Horyu-jo, Todai-ji (an 8 th century National Treasure), Nikko Tosho-gu, and at Itsukushima Shrine.Īs for stone statues, a famous one can be found at Jochi-ji (a pagoda-shaped one) and another one in a beautiful setting can be seen in Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo. The part of the lantern that encased the light would represent fire, and the two sections closest to the sky would represent the spirit and the air.Įssentially, these lanterns were a metaphor for how transient life is: when we die, our bodies return to the origins of these elements. The part of the statue closest to the ground would represent the earth, then the part on top of that would represent water. The original Toro lanterns were designed to embody Buddhist cosmology’s five elements. Some are made of stone, while others are of bronze. You will find floor lanterns, hanging lanterns, buried lanterns, and pedestal lanterns. Here, you’ll find Toro lanterns made from stone and bronze have existed since the 8 th century during the Nara period. If you want to find the oldest ones, you’ll have to head to Nara. You’ll find them in gardens, parks, and temples in Japan. Commonly regarded as offerings to Buddha, they also were used in Japanese homes and Shinto shrines between the 8 th and 12 th centuries. They would frame pathways and illuminate the area. Originally, the toro were placed inside Buddhist temples. You’ll also find similar lanterns in Vietnam or Korea, but you’d have to look a little harder in those countries. There were originally brought over from China and you can still see similar lanterns in Buddhist temples and Chinese gardens too. The first Japanese lanterns were made out of wood, stone, or metal.
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