Page:Japanese Gardens (Taylor).djvu/107

Rh means of legs, and those of a single stem rising from a plinth or flat base resting upon the ground. The latter sort, much like a ‘Standard’ lamp in appearance, may be called the senior variety. They are used in gardens or temple grounds where a dignified effect is sought, and usually carry on the architectural features of the buildings they are near. They are generally made of stone, and the pedestal as well as the outside of the fire-box and the top may be carved with Buddhist emblems or the crests of daimios. They are handsome and stately, but lack, maybe, a little of the quaint charm of the more informal kind with legs and greater individuality.

However much foundation for it there is in fact, it would appear that religious sentiment is greatly concerned in the employment of the ‘Standard’ types of lanterns. They were a favourite form of votive offering, or propitiatory gift to the temple god, from the great daimios and noblemen, and their use in private gardens seems to have a little of the religious element as well as of the æsthetic still lingering about it; nor is it at all an uncommon sight to find their tiny glimmering lights, shining out like larger glow-worms or fire-flies, in small home gardens at the time of one of their temple festivals, while they remain dark for a private celebration or gathering.

Temple lanterns are made of bronze as well as of stone, but the former are put inside the