Architecture of the Pagoda 五重塔の建築

Official explanation

At just under 55 meters, the pagoda at Tōji is the tallest traditional wooden building in Japan. Although its height makes it susceptible to lightning strikes, it is extremely resistant to earthquakes. In over 1,000 years, none of the pagodas at Tōji have been toppled by an earthquake.

The pagoda is constructed around a central column formed from three tree trunks joined end to end. The column is fixed into the ground beneath the pagoda and supports the ornamental finial that decorates the topmost roof.

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The floors of the pagoda are built as independent sections stacked on one another. The timber used in the structure is fitted together with elaborate joints rather than with nails. During an earthquake, the building’s center of gravity remains stable because the sections of the pagoda move independently from the central column which acts as a damper and the play between the joints absorbs some of the shaking.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.