五重(ごじゅう)の塔(とう)

ごじゅうのとう
noun
five-story pagoda
building
1. five-story pagoda
A traditional Buddhist pagoda with five tiers, commonly found at temples throughout Japan. The five stories symbolize the five elements of Buddhist cosmology: earth, water, fire, wind, and sky.
五重(ごじゅう)の塔(とう)が見(み)えてきた。
A five-story pagoda came into view.
法隆寺(ほうりゅうじ)の五重(ごじゅう)の塔(とう)は日本最古(にほんさいこ)のものだ。
The five-story pagoda at Horyuji is the oldest in Japan.
桜(さくら)と五重(ごじゅう)の塔(とう)の組(く)み合(あ)わせは、外国人観光客(がいこくじんかんこうきゃく)に人気(にんき)の撮影(さつえい)スポットだ。
The combination of cherry blossoms and a five-story pagoda is a popular photo spot for foreign tourists.

Cultural note

The five stories represent the five elements (五大(ごだい)) in Buddhist thought: 地(ち) (earth), 水(すい) (water), 火(か) (fire), 風(ふう) (wind), and 空(くう) (sky/void). Famous examples include those at 法隆寺(ほうりゅうじ) (Nara), 東寺(とうじ) (Kyoto), and 浅草寺(せんそうじ) (Tokyo).

Usage

Also written as 五重塔(ごじゅうのとう) without the の particle. Both forms are common.

Related words

Related Words

Related: 塔(とう) (tower, pagoda)
general
Added 2026.3.19 17:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17500/17884_gojuunotou