The tower of the five-story pagoda at Daigoji Temple in Kyoto, rises gracefully above the lush green summer foliage, the red color contrasting beautifully with the rich green shades of the surrounding trees and grass. The spire is framed by tall pines on either side. This print is rich in architectural detail and color. The pagoda of Daigoji Temple was built to store a tiny piece, a drop of swallow’s tears in Japanese, of Buddha’s bone. Pagodas were imported from China about 1,500 years ago, and Daigoji’s pagoda was built about 1,000 years ago. It is ranked among the greatest pagodas in Japan. Japan has had many big earthquakes in the last thousand years, but they have failed to destroy Daigoji pagoda. One reason is that no nails were used to build it. The joints to the main structure are connected like pieces of a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle. With the passage of time, the wood has shrunk and small gaps between the joints have opened up. The gaps and the pliability of wood are able absorb the shock of a strong earthquake.

Format is Oban.