The golden finial on top of the pagoda at the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Japan is called a sorin, and functions as a lightning rod. It has 8 sections.

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The finial has a complicated construction, each part symbolizing something different - up to 8 or 9 sections. Pagodas frequently succumbed to fire due to lightning strikes, and the finials now reduce that possibility. A finial may be over 10 meters tall! See Wikipedia suject "sorin" for complete discussion.

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Size: 4000px × 6000px
Location: Sensoji Temple old five-story pagoda mark, 2 Chome-3 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan
Photo credit: © Susan Heller / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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