null

Sensoji Daito Kaishaku (浅草寺大塔解釈, An explanation of the Great Pagoda at Asakusa Temple)

null
Japanese colour woodblock print showing pavilion in clouds

Sensoji Daito Kaishaku (浅草寺大塔解釈, An explanation of the Great Pagoda at Asakusa Temple)

Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: [185_]
Medium: O-ban Nishiki-e (大判錦絵, large-format coloured print)
Object number: O.11.22
DescriptionOne of the most famous examples of damage caused by the Ansei Earthquake (安政の大地震) is the damage to the five-storey pagoda of Sensoji Temple (浅草寺). In the lower right-hand corner, it is written: 'This earthquake was unprecedented and rare great shaking (此度の地震ハ前代未聞にして希なる大揺也)'. This pagoda was built by Tokugawa Iemitsu (徳川家光) in 1648, but this earthquake caused Kurin (九輪, nine vertically stacked rings of a pagoda finial) to bend limply.