The Reading Pagoda Fish - Reading, PA
Posted by: 
Janila
N 40° 20.173 W 075° 54.331
18T E 423084 N 4465467
Two gold fish sit high atop the Reading Pagoda.
Waymark Code: WMYY9K
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/10/2018
Views: 1
The Reading Pagoda website states that the two dolphins that sit on the roof of the 7 story tall Pagoda are there to protect the Pagoda from fire. That confused me a bit so I turned to our good friend, Google, and found out that these fish are Japanese Shachihoko. In Japanese folklore, the shachihoko has the head of a tiger and the body of the fish and is able to cause rain to fall. They were used on tops of temples and they are also used on top of the Japanese inspired Reading Pagoda.
The dolphins replace earlier clay dolphins which disintegrated. The Pagoda building on which they stand has been designated a historic landmark. In 1992, the dolphins were regilded.
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Unknown
Figure Type: Fantasy creature
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Bessie Prail Bast
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1/1/1971
Materials used: Sculpture: gilded aluminum; Base: metal.
Location: On top of the Reading Pagoda
|
Visit Instructions:
Please upload at least one photo you have personally taken of the sculpture and tell us a little about your impressions of the piece. Additional photos are always appreciated.
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|