BEGIN Japanology |S2E09| Five-Story Pagodas | NHK

The Five-storied Pagoda at Horyuji Temple is the oldest pagoda of this type in Japan and one of the oldest surviving wooden towers in the world. It was erected during the Asuka period (593–710) to enshrine sacred relics of the Buddha. The bones and ashes of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, were distributed among his followers after he died some 2,500 years ago. A portion of these remains are said to be entombed about three meters below the base of the pagoda today. The base displays a series of four tableaux depicting scenes from the Buddha’s story. On the north side, he is depicted passing into Nirvana while his disciples surround him in mourning.