Dogyo Ninin Ishidohyo, Japanese Stone Pillar

In Japan, decorative stone pillars can be seen in all sorts of places. These so-called Ishidōhyō (石道標) are placed partly in the ground and contain a written text that must be read from top to bottom. This text can cover a variety of subjects. It can, for example, indicate the way or a location. Additionally, poetic texts also frequently appear.

This specific Ishidōhyō is adorned with beautifully carved Japanese characters that refer to ancient pilgrimage traditions. The characters are read as Dōgyō Ninin (同行二人), which can be translated as: two people traveling together.