Category:

Municipally Designated Tangible Cultural Property (Archaeological artifact)

Title:

Futsumiya amidado itaishitoba

The Steles of Futatsumiya Amidado Hall

二ツ宮阿弥陀堂板石塔婆

No. of features:

Two flat, stone steles

Designated:

January 19, 1961

Location:

Amidado Hall, 379 Futatsumiya, Nishi Ward

Owner:

Amidado Hall

Description:

Itaishitoba steles are flat, stone, pillar-shaped stupas used in Buddhist memorials. They are often inscribed with seed syllables (in Sanskrit, “bīja,”) Sanskrit characters representing the names of buddhas and bodhisattvas.

The first of Futatsumiya Amidado Hall’s itaishitoba steles dates back to 1297. It is carved from chlorite schist and is inscribed with gatha verses and three seed syllables representing the Amida Buddha (Amitabha). The stele measures 176.9 centimeters high, 46.4 centimeters at its widest point, and 4.6 centimeters at its thickest. It features an outline around the main inscription and lotus pedestal motifs.

The second itaishitoba stele is from 1258. Also carved from chlorite schist, this stele is inscribed with one Amida Buddha seed syllable. The upper section is damaged. It currently measures 88.2 centimeters tall, 53.2 centimeters wide, and 4.9 centimeters thick. 

Source:

vol. 13, Omiya City Board of Education, 1979, Survey Report on the Prefectural Cultural Properties of Omiya.

vol. 15, Omiya City Board of Education, 1981, Survey Report on the Prefectural Cultural Properties of Omiya.

Cultural Properties in Omiya 2., Omiya Municipal Board of Education, 1986.

This cultural artifact is not currently on public display. Please seek permission from its owners/curators before viewing. Please be courteous towards other visitors and the site’s owners/curators when visiting this cultural property.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL: 048-829-1723 FAX: 048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/017/013/003/p000378.html