Granite Lanterns (Ishi-Doro) were originally introduced into Japan from China over a thousand years ago. The first ones were made of metal and were primarily used to light doorways to shrines and temples. They were later made of stone for use in Japanese gardens, but it wasn't until they were introduced into Japanese tea gardens by Japanese tea-master Sen-no-Rikkyu that they really became a major garden element.
Japanese tea ceremonies were often held in the evenings and light was needed to guide the guests to the tea room.
Stone lanterns can be classified into four basic categories:
Tachi-gata (pedastal lanterns), Ikekomi-gata (buried lanterns), Oki-gata (small, set lanterns) and Yukimi-gata (snow-viewing lanterns).
Today, stone lanterns are used for garden enhancements and for visual delight. |
