Miyoshi Gata Ishidoro, Japanese Stone Lantern

Stone lanterns, Ishidōrō (石灯籠) in Japanese, are undoubtedly the most characteristic element of the traditional Japanese garden. The phenomenon originated more than a thousand years ago in China, from where it also became part of traditional Japanese culture via Korea. Every Japanese sanctuary, such as a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine, uses stone lanterns as a sacred light source. During the 16th century, stone lanterns became very popular among Japanese tea masters and were used in tea gardens to illuminate the path to the tea house. Since then, one or more stone lanterns can almost always be found in nearly every traditional Japanese garden.

A Japanese stone lantern consists of several separate parts that must be carefully stacked on top of each other. The resulting perfect balance makes the lantern a very sturdy and durable whole.

De Miyoshi Gata Ishidōrō (みよし型石灯籠) is een zeer geliefde Japanse stenen lantaarn zonder basis platform. De pilaar dient voor een klein deel ingegraven te worden. Stenen lantaarns zoals dit vallen onder de categorie Ikekomi lantaarns (活込灯篭).

According to Japanese history, the Miyoshi lantern was designed for intersections by a man named Miyoshi. Various sources say that he intended to light up the world with these lanterns. Today, the Miyoshi lantern is used in many more places than just at intersections. It is known for its role in many Japanese gardens, large and small, where it is often placed along the path. Miyoshi lanterns are very recognizable due to the iconic Hiragana characters that Miyoshi plays on the front.