What Is the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal?
The Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal (總持寺放光観音台座, Hikari Kannon Daiza) is a granite statue base at Sojiji Temple in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, made in 1923 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005. The characters 放光, often read hōkō, are read "hikari" (light) here.
It stands southwest of the central halls and supports a statue of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion. It is 7 shaku (about 2.1 meters) high and occupies 43 square meters. The registration covers the pedestal itself.
Several of the temple's eighteen registered structures are not buildings, but the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal is the only one made of stone, a single work of masonry recognised amid a precinct of timber halls.
Why the Pedestal Was Registered
The Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal was listed as a model of design. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the base is square in plan with varied corners, and on it sits the main body, hexagonal in plan and tapering inward as it rises, which gives it a steady silhouette.
Moulded bands run continuously around the lower part of the body, each face of the middle section carries a Sanskrit seed syllable, and petal-shaped ornaments sit at the upper corners.
The Agency praises it as carefully shaped down to the details. Moving from square to hexagon and from bottom to top, with a different ornament at each stage, it is an elaborate piece of stonework.
What to Look For at the Pedestal
Start at the transition from the square base to the hexagonal body; the shaped corners make the change look natural.
Walk round and you will see a different seed syllable on each face. Each syllable stands for a buddha or bodhisattva, so the pedestal itself carries devotional meaning.
The petal ornaments at the top suggest the lotus on which Kannon is received. Looking up at statue and base together, you can see how the 2.1-meter pedestal raises the figure above the grounds.
Visiting the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal
The Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal stands outdoors southwest of the central halls and can be viewed freely. Circle it to see the syllables and mouldings on each face.
Please do not climb on or touch it. The southwest of the grounds is uneven, so watch your step. Directions are on the Sojiji Temple page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kanagawa
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal
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Q&A
- How is the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal read?
- Sojiji Hikari Kannon Daiza. The characters 放光 are read "hikari" here.
- What is the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal made of?
- Granite. It is 7 shaku, about 2.1 meters, high.
- What decoration does the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal have?
- A square base with shaped corners, a tapering hexagonal body with moulded bands, a Sanskrit seed syllable on each face, and petal ornaments at the top corners.
- When was the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal made and registered?
- It was made in 1923 and registered on 12 July 2005.
- Can I see the Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal freely?
- Yes. It stands outdoors southwest of the central halls and is open to view.
Basic Information
| Name | Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal (總持寺放光観音台座) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-1-1 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 2005 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 unit |
| Dimensions | Granite; height 7 shaku (about 2.1 meters); area 43 square meters |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Daihonzan Sojiji |
| Public Access | Outdoors; viewable freely from the grounds |
References
- Sojiji Hikari Kannon Pedestal - Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004727
- Precinct Map (Japanese) - Sotoshu Daihonzan Sojiji
- https://www.sojiji.jp/map/
- Visiting Information (Japanese) - Sotoshu Daihonzan Sojiji
- https://www.sojiji.jp/visit/
Last verified: 2026.09.16
