Tea Master Rikyu’s Lantern and Lord Hosokawa’s Grave

Hidden in an overgrown garden behind the Koto-in Temple, part of the Daitoku-ji Temple’s 22 temple complex in Kyoto’s northern districts, is the grave of Lord Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563 – 1646) and his wife, Gracia (1563 – 1600). Interestingly, the grave consists not of the usual grave stone or marker, but a toro, a carved stone lantern, in particular the large upright type commonly found in the gardens of tea rooms, known as dai-doro.