Sorinto, Buddhist stupa 本堂（相輪橖）

Official explanation

This tower is in the form of the finial typically found on the roof of a pagoda. It was constructed by the monk Tenkai (1536–1643), the chief priest of the Nikkosan temple complex in the early 1600’s when the Toshogu Shrine was built. The Sorinto houses a collection of Buddhist sutras and has great religious significance. The nine rings represent the five Wisdom Nyorai Buddhas and the four Bodhisattvas.

The design for this monument was inspired by Saicho (767–822), the founder of the Japanese Tendai sect of Buddhism. He had six such finials built across the country to provide Japan with the divine protection of the Buddhist Law. Tenkai built this finial to protect eastern Japan, to ward off evil spirits, and to maintain peace within the realm.

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.