Center Stone
Magic Stone
48-32-1
From: Japan | Ryukyu Islands | Okinawa | Shuri Castle
Curatorial Section: Asian
| Object Number | 48-32-1 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Japanese |
| Provenience | Japan | Ryukyu Islands | Okinawa | Shuri Castle |
| Period | Modern |
| Date Made | 18th Century? |
| Section | Asian |
| Materials | Stone |
| Iconography | Magic | Space | Time | Zodiac |
| Description | Center stone forming a space and time diagram to give a certain magical power to the site at which it is placed. In the center are the characters for the four cardinal directions (北 North, 南 South, 東 East and 西 West). Around the edge are the zodiac characters of the twelve, two-hour periods of the day (midnight to midnight), beginning at the top and going clockwise: 子 (rat), 丑 (ox), 寅 (tiger), 卯 (rabbit), 辰 (dragon), 巳 (snake), 午 (horse), 未 (goat), 申 (monkey), 酉 (rooster), 戌 (dog), 亥 (pig). |
| Thickness | 10.3 cm |
| Outside Diameter | 25 cm |
| Credit Line | Gift of William W. Reeder, 1948 |
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