Granitoid Lanterns...

Remember that stone lantern obsession I told you about?



Well, I wasn't kidding!

Stone lanterns were originally used to provide a subtle light during tea ceremonies. The shape of these lanterns were not standardised but were generally comprised of the following 6 features: kurin (ornamental top), kasa (cap), hibukuro (light chamber), chudai (middle stand), sao (post) & jirin (base). Nowadays, you can find at least one example of a granite lantern in a Japanese garden - I usually manage to locate more than one :)

(Picture taken at Kaminoike - Upper Pond, Shinjuku Gyoen)