Baked Clay Stupa (Gatō)

In ancient Japanese Buddhist temples, multistoried towers were constructed to hold the bones of or other treasures associated with the Buddha. Miniature versions of these towers made from bisque (fired pottery) are called gatō. People used these miniature towers in place of the real, bigger towers as worship objects. This tower was excavated from the Higashiyama ruins in Misato, Saitama Prefecture and is thought to have been created in the 9th century (early Heian Period). On the roof of the tower, there are depictions of individual roof tiles and supports. Another similar hall-shaped structure called a gadō held other worship objects and was also excavated from the Higashiyama ruins. It is thought that the gatō and the gadō formed a set. This artifact is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.