Culture, History, Places, Religions

What Do Japan’s Torii, China’s Paifang & Korea’s Hongsalmun Have in Common?

What’s common to the Torii of Japan, China’s Paifang and Korea’s Honsalmun? All these ceremonial gates have a shared inspiration - the toranas of the Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh. In the 1st c. BCE, the Satavahas built these magnificent gateways, inviting donors to sponsor panels on them. Their names are still inscribed on the railings around the stupa.

Image attributions

1.Itsukushima Gate, Japan

JordyMeow, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Itsukushima_Gate.jpg

2.Jade Dragon Temple Paifang, China

Wingsancora93, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_style_Paifang.jpg

3.Hongsalmun, Heolleung Royal Tomb, Korea

Noh Mun Duek, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hongsalmun_(%ED%99%8D%EC%82%B4%EB%AC%B8)_of_Heolleung_Royal_Tomb_(%ED%97%8C%EB%8A%A5).jpg

4.Bodhi Tree

Neil Satyam, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodhi_Tree_Distant_View_-_panoramio.jpg

5.Buddha’s Stupa, Vaishali, Bihar

Hideyuki KAMON, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha%27s_ashes_Stupa,_Vaishali,_Bihar.jpg

6.Mango leaves garland

YVSREDDY, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mango_leaves_garland_(1).jpg

7.Hindola Torana, Madhya Pradesh

Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0112521_Hindola_Torana_and_Chaukhamba_Hindu_temple_ruins,_Gyaraspur_MP_004.jpg

8.Mukteswar Temple, Bhubaneswar

Anupam Calcutta, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D35_Mukteswar_WK_-_Mukteswar_Temple_Bhubaneswar.jpg

9.Warangal fort, Andhra Pradesh

By Skorthiw at English Wikipedia – Original source: Santosh Korthiwada https://www.flickr.com/photos/santu/15445288/ [dead link], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4275617

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Warangal_fort.jpg

10.Nau toran temple, Madhya Pradesh

Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0111321_Nau_toran_temple,_Navatorana_mandir,_Khor_Madhya_Pradesh_011.jpg

11.Torana at Lodurva jain temple

Shakti, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lodurva_jain_temple_torana.jpg

12.Plan of Sanchi Stupa

Rohini, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plan_of_Stupa_at_Sanchi_-_2.JPG

13.Buddhist Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh

Bhajish Bharathan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhist_Stupa_at_Sanchi_in_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg

14.Buddhist Expansion Map

Gunawan Kartapranata, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhist_Expansion.svg

15.Paifang, China

Windmemories, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20220212_Stone_paifang_on_South_Street_04.jpg

16.Torii, Japan

https://pixabay.com/photos/torii-sea-japan-shrine-lake-biwa-3841388/

Tags: Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi Stupa, Satavahana, Torana

Lakshmi Vilas Palace

He pioneered the Indo-Saracenic style or architecture and built grand landmarks across India. And yet, he did not trust his own designs and never saw his finest creation completed. This is the story of Maj. Charles Mant and his masterpiece - the Lakshmi Vilas Palace at Vadodara, the world’s largest private residence.

History, People, Places

The Prison That Secured Aurangzeb’s Throne | Gwalior Fort

Beneath the palaces of Gwalior Fort lies one of the most dreaded prisons of medieval India. Here, princes vanished and rivals were erased from politics. This was the prison that secured Aurangzeb the Mughal throne.

Culture, History, Mythology, Places, Religions

Why the Original Sanchi Stupa Had No Images of Buddha | Sanchi

Did you know the first human images of the Buddha appeared nearly 500 years after his death? Before that, artists used symbols to represent him. You can see many such symbols at the Sanchi Stupa.

Culture, History, Places

The Andhra town that dressed the world | Pedana

What links a quiet Andhra town to the global fashion boom of the 17th century? Kalamkari and Chintz - intricate, handcrafted textiles that once dazzled royal courts and European fashion houses alike, were born in the neighbouring towns of Machilipatnam and Pedana in Andhra Pradesh.

History, Places, Religions

The Satavahanas at Sanchi

History textbooks teach us that the Sanchi Stupa was built by emperor Ashoka. However, the credit doesn't entirely go to him. Who built the stupa that stands in Sanchi today?

History, Places, Religions

Ancient stone caskets that stored Buddha’s relics | Sanchi Stupa, India

Buddha died around 483 BCE. His remains were stored in 8 stone caskets. Emperor Ashoka had an idea – a vision to spread Buddhism through these relics. How did he do it? This story explores the journey of Buddha’s cremated remains from nearly 2500 years ago to locations that have become important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, one of which is the Sanchi Stupa.