Entrée van het mausoleum ter herinnering aan Tokugawa Iemitsu in de Taiyuinbyo in Nikko, Japan c. 1851 - 1900

This photograph captures the entrance of the mausoleum commemorating Tokugawa Iemitsu in Nikko, Japan. Dominating the composition are the lanterns flanking the entrance, acting as sentinels guarding the passage to the sacred space within. These lanterns, ubiquitous in Japanese religious architecture, are not merely sources of light but potent symbols. Their glow pierces the darkness, guiding spirits and illuminating the path for the living. We see echoes of this motif in ancient Greek sanctuaries, where torches guided initiates through the Eleusinian Mysteries. Consider how fire, as a symbol, transcends cultures. From the hearths of our ancestors to the eternal flames of temples, it embodies purification, transformation, and the enduring human spirit. This collective memory, etched deep in our subconscious, imbues the lanterns with a power that resonates across time. They are a beacon, connecting us to the past and illuminating the enduring quest for meaning.