ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gorintō

Gorintō is a special kind of tower that people in Japan use to remember their loved ones who have passed away. Here's how it works:

Imagine you have a toy block with five different colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow. Each color represents something important:

- Black stands for earth or soil, which is where we bury our loved ones after they pass away.
- White stands for water or air, which is what helps things grow and gives life to the world around us.
- Red stands for fire, which is a powerful force that can destroy but also bring warmth and light.
- Green stands for wind or wood, which are important materials for building homes and other things.
- Yellow stands for gold or metal, which is strong and can last a very long time.

When someone in Japan passes away, their family might decide to put up a gorintō tower to remember them. The tower is made up of five different sections, each one representing one of the colors we talked about earlier. The sections are stacked on top of each other like blocks, with the black section at the bottom and the yellow section at the top.

Sometimes the sections are engraved with special symbols or writings that represent important ideas or teachings from Buddhism, which is a common religion in Japan. People might come and place flowers or other offerings at the foot of the tower, as a way of showing respect to their loved ones who have passed away.

Overall, gorintō is a special way that people in Japan honor and remember their ancestors and loved ones who are no longer with them.