Buddhist Tower in Form of a Pagoda (Hokyointo)
13th century
Medium
Granite
Dimensions
126 × 51 × 51 cm (49 5/8 × 20 1/8 × 20 1/8 in.)
Classification
stone (unidentified)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
71783
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The hokyointo is one of the earliest known types of stone pagoda in East Asia. Like other forms of pagoda, the design and function of this Buddhist monument originated in the ancient Indian memorial mounds (stupa), which were constructed to enshrine sacred remains or relics of the Buddha. In Japan distinct forms of multistoried stone and wood pagodas evolved to memorialize great Buddhist teachers and holy persons and to contain sacred texts (sutra). This hokyointo shows several early Kamakura pe...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...