Scenic Spot
The large number of stone lanterns below were donated by daimyo feudal lords to display their loyalty to the Tokugawa shogunate. These lanterns, and others like them that can be found all around the Taiyuin, are positioned according to the status and wealth of the person who donated them. The closer to the mausoleum, the larger and more magnificent the lanterns become. At the highest levels are metalwork lanterns, which were donations from the most powerful and wealthy men in the country. The lanterns located directly below this viewing platform were given by the lowest-ranking daimyo, who were not permitted to this higher spot because of their low rank. The view from here is compared to looking down from the heavens onto the human world below.