About the memorial tower | blog | Shimanami Memory for the ocean scatter of the Seto Inland Sea

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Today, let me talk about the memorial tower.

What is a memorial tower?

A memorial tower is a tower built for memorial services so that the deceased and ancestors can rest in peace. In addition to cemeteries and temples, they can also be found in places where many people died in wars and disasters. Therefore, memorial services can be seen all over the country.

It is said to have started around the end of the Heian period, and was built to hold a memorial service for the remains of those who lost their lives in wars and disasters, and who could not be found to claim them.

The difference between a memorial tower and a grave

The biggest difference between memorial pagodas and graves is that while memorial pagodas contain the remains of deceased relatives regardless of their blood relatives, graves are often referred to as ``ancestral tombs'' or ``family graves.'' It is a common point that characters are engraved on the kimono and that it is entered by family or relatives.

More and more people are choosing memorial towers! ?

In recent years, due to the declining birthrate and aging population, there are many reasons why there is no one to inherit the grave, relatives living far away, and married and unable to inherit the grave. Memorial towers are increasingly being chosen as a burial method. Of course, in some cases, a memorial tower is built near the grave to honor the ancestors. In addition, there are cases where a new memorial tower is built for the ancestors who sleep in the old grave where the name engraved on it has become unreadable due to deterioration.

Types of memorial towers

〇Gorinto

It consists of five stones representing air, fire, water and earth, which are the five elements of the universe in ancient India.

〇 Hokyointo

The four parts of the foundation, tower body, kasobe, and sorin are stacked and erected on the masonry foundation. Hokyointo is used to enshrine ancestors who died more than 100 years ago, but the five-ring pagoda is used when enshrining more than 50 years ago.

〇Tahoutou

A double tower with a circular upper part and a square lower part with a square roof is common. It was created based on the legend that when Shakyamuni chanted the Lotus Sutra, a pagoda of seven treasures appeared in the air, and the pagoda in the pagoda deeply admired Shakyamuni and split into half.

〇Ishitoba

It was made from the Kamakura period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Brahmi characters used in India, the name of the recipient, the date of the memorial service, and the contents of the memorial service are engraved on the stone that has been processed into a plate. In addition, although it is sometimes omitted, a double line is engraved on the head.

〇 Muhoutou

The body of the tower is egg-shaped, and is also called an egg tower. There are two types of pagodas, with a flower arrangement placed on the foundation and a long rounded egg-shaped pagoda on top. The other type has a hexagonal or octagonal pedestal on top of which there is a central base, a flower arrangement, and an egg-shaped pagoda. The first is taller and the second is shorter.

A memorial tower is different from a grave where the ashes are placed, but they are all the same in that they are for the purpose of memorial service for the deceased. In recent years, the number of people who wish to have a memorial tower has increased, partly because it can be built relatively cheaply regardless of religion or sect. If you are interested in the memorial tower, please feel free to contact us.