Category:

Municipally Designated Tangible Cultural Property (Archaeological artifact)

Title:

Hoshakuji itaishitoba

The Stele of Hoshakuji Temple

宝積寺板石塔婆

No. of features:

One flat stone stele

Designated:

April 14, 1962

Location:

Hoshakuji Temple

3-38-1 Fukasaku, Minuma Ward

Owner:

The religious juridical person of Hoshakuji Temple

Description:

Itaishitoba steles are flat, stone, pillar-shaped stupas used in Buddhist memorials. They are often inscribed with seed syllables (in Sanskrit, “bīja,”) Sanskrit characters representing the names of buddhas and bodhisattvas.

This itaishitoba stele is inscribed with the date “November 9, 1347”. It rises 189.0 cm tall from its base and is 54.0 cm wide and 6.0 cm thick. The seed syllable for the Womb Realm’s Dainichi Buddha (Mahāvairocana) is carved in hollow relief above a lotus pedestal. The intent of the stele’s construction and the Mantra of Light are also written in Sanskrit.

Associated Texts:

(1979). “Survey Report on Omiya City’s Cultural Properties” (vol. 13). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1981). “Survey Report on Omiya City’s Cultural Properties” (vol. 15). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1986). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 2). Omiya Board of Education.

This cultural property is not currently on public display. Please seek permission from its owners/curators before viewing. Please be courteous towards other visitors and the site’s owners/curators when visiting this cultural property.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/017/013/003/p000379.html