stonework and faith

There are many stone structures in the city that were built from the medieval period to the early modern period. The stone structures that can be seen along old roads and in the precincts of shrines and temples are deeply connected to the lives and beliefs of the people in those areas. Some of the typical stone structures that can be seen in the city include:
Itabi
Kuyoto are memorial towers that were built from the Kamakura period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and were erected all over the country to commemorate the dead and pray for the comfort of future generations. Many of them are made from chlorite schist, which is native to the Chichibu region, and were most commonly made in the Kanto region. It can be said to be a stonework representative of the Middle Ages.
Koshin Tower
This stone pagoda was built to commemorate the continuation of the Koshin-ko (Koshin-ko) ceremony, and its surface features statues such as the blue-faced Kongo, two birds, three monkeys, and the sun and moon. The common shape is carved. The Koshin faith began in the Heian period, but the belief spread in rural communities during the Edo period, and pagoda construction became popular.
Jizo Bodhisattva Tower
The Jizo Bodhisattva Pagoda is the most popular stone pagoda built for the worship of the common people during the Edo period. He is commonly seen in the shape of a monk, holding a hoju (a jewel that makes wishes come true) in his left hand and a shakujo (a walking staff carried by monks) in his right hand, and is representative of the early modern period. It can be said to be a stone structure.
Bato Kanzeon Tower
Horses were an important labor force in farming villages during the Edo period, and stone pagodas were erected to commemorate horses that died from illness or accidents, and to pray for safe passage on highways. It was actively produced from the latter half of the Edo period to the Taisho period.