SYMBOLISM
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Meaning in Japanese Culture
Symbolic Transformation in the U.S.
Stone lanterns traditionally represent:
spiritual illumination
purification
connection to ancestors
guidance for spirits
protection from misfortune
This lantern was originally a sacred funerary object, not a decoration.
After its relocation, its meaning shifted:
from mourning to friendship
from funerary ritual to cultural diplomacy
from Tokugawa power to U.S.-Japan peace
Changing Meanings Over Time
1954
1954
A symbol of healing after WWII and a celebration of 100 years of diplomacy.
Today
Today
The lantern is a:
cultural landmark
historical artifact
rare piece of Tokugawa funerary art
highlight of the Cherry Blossom Festival
It also stands beside the earliest cherry trees planted in Washington.
The Lantern as a Gift (Mauss’s Gift Theory)
The Lantern as a Gift (Mauss’s Gift Theory)
According to Marcel Mauss, a gift creates a relationship, not just an exchange.
Japan’s gift created:
an ongoing bond of goodwill
an expectation of continued cooperation
a symbol of postwar trust and respect
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