Five-Story Pagoda

Horyuji Temple
Ikaruga, Japan

The floors of Horyuji's pagoda decrease in size from bottom to top. The 100-foot-tall structure is built around a massive internal post that was cut from a single tree trunk, although Kidder (p. 64), writes that "If anything, the pagoda supports the pole, not the pole the pagoda."

On the walls of the pagoda, over 90 stunning miniature clay statues (dated 711 A.D.) are displayed in four alcolves, one alcolve on each wall (next page). At present (2000) these can only be seen unsatisfactorily, as the alcoves that contain them are very dark.