Gangoji Temple Gokurakubo: Model Pagoda

JAPAN, Nara; Nara period

This is a model of the five-story pagoda in Gangoji Temple, which was destroyed by fire in 1859. The style of the pagoda suggests that it could have been constructed in the late Nara period. Now located within the Gangoji Temple Gokurakubo, it was designated a National Treasure in 1952.
The 1:10 scale model is approximately 5.5 m high and is made of wood. It consists of a base, body, and spire. The square base has three cloud-like cutouts on each side and steps that lead up to the top of the second smaller base. There are three bays on the side of each story, with doors in the central bay. Apart from the first story, there are balustrades surrounding each. The eaves are supported by three-tier bracket sets and downward-pointing cantilevers, and bells hang from the corners of the eaves. The square pyramidal roofs are laid with cylindrical tiles. The spire consists of a square harmika, an inverted bowl, an upight lotus, nine stacked rings, a water flame, and jewels.