The earliest prototype of the stone lantern was the lamp lit when the Chinese state offered Buddhas,
that is, the form of offering lamps. This form was introduced to Japan through Korea, and an example
is the lantern offering in front of the Phoenix Hall Buddha in Byodoin. It shows the meaning of vertical
light. In front of the Cliff Buddha at the Longzi Temple site in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, there
is a tall lantern from before the Tang Dynasty, which is the oldest example in China. There are many
stone lanterns in the ruins of Silla in Korea. It can be seen in Bulguksa Temple, Bumseoksa Temple,
Fajusa Temple and Hwaeumsa Temple in Gyeongju, South Gyeongsang Province.
