A Gilded Age 五輪塔 (Gorinto) | The Gilded Age in America

A Gorinto is the Japanese interpretation of a type of Buddhist pagoda used as a memorial or burial marker. Larz and Isabel Anderson saw many of these on their trips to Japan and purchased one for their estate in Brookline, MA.  Their estate is now the Larz Anderson Park.

A Gorinto has five levels, each with its own meaning.  From top to bottom:

Jewel – perfection Crescent – receptivity Triangle – transition, unification, movement Circle – completion, wisdom

Square – four elements (air, fire, water, and earth).