The term "National Treasure" has been used in Japan to denote cultural properties since 1897. [3] The definition and the criteria have changed since the inception of the term. The temple structures in this list were designated national treasures when the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties was implemented on June 9, 1951. The items are selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology based on their "especially high historical or artistic value". [4] [5] This list presents 158 [nb 1] entries of national treasure temple structures from the late 7th-century Classical Asuka period to the early modern 19th-century Edo period. The number of structures listed is more than 158, because in some cases groups of related structures are combined to form a single entry. The structures include main halls such as kon-dō , hon-dō, Butsuden; pagodas, gates, belfries (鐘楼,, shōrō ), corridors, other halls and structures that are part of a Buddhist temple. [5]
Buddhism arrived in Japan in the mid–6th century, and was officially adopted in the wake of the Battle of Shigisan in 587, after which Buddhist temples began to be constructed. [6] Soga no Umako built Hōkō-ji, the first temple in Japan, between 588 and 596. It was later renamed as Asuka-dera for Asuka, the name of the capital where it was located. Prince Shotoku actively promoted Buddhism and ordered the construction of Shitennō-ji in Osaka (593) and Hōryū-ji near his palace in Ikaruga (completed in 603). [7] During the ancient period, the temple layout was strictly prescribed and followed mainland styles, with a main gate facing south, and the most sacred area surrounded by a semi-enclosed roofed corridor ( kairō ) accessible through a middle gate (chūmon). The sacred precinct contained a pagoda, which acted as a reliquary for sacred objects, and an image hall (kon-dō). The complex might have other structures such as a lecture hall (kōdō), a belfry (shōrō), a sutra repository ( kyōzō ), priests' and monks' quarters and bathhouses. [8] [9] The ideal temple had a heart formed by seven structures—called Shichidō garan . Buddhism, and the construction of temples, spread from the capital to outlying areas in the Hakuhō period from 645 to 710. [7] Because of fire, earthquakes, typhoons and wars, few of the ancient temples remain. Hōryū-ji, rebuilt after a fire in 670, is the only temple with 7th century structures which are the oldest extant wooden buildings in the world. [8]
Unlike early Shinto shrines, early Buddhist temples were highly ornamental and strictly symmetrical. [10] Starting with the late 7th century Hōryū-ji, temples began to move towards indigenous methods expressed by irregular ground plans that resulted in an asymmetric arrangement of buildings, greater use of natural materials such as cypress bark instead of roof tiling, and an increased awareness of natural environment with the placement of buildings among trees. This adaption was assisted by the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. [10] [11] [12] During the first half of the 8th century, Emperor Shōmu decreed temples and nunneries be erected in each province and that Tōdai-ji be built as a headquarters for the network of temples. [13] [14] [15] The head temple was inaugurated in 752 and was of monumental dimensions with two seven-storied pagodas, each ca. 100 m (330 ft) tall and a Great Buddha Hall (daibutsuden) about 80 m × 70 m (260 ft × 230 ft). [15] Nara period Buddhism was characterised by seven influential state supported temples, the so-called Nanto Shichi Daiji . [14] Octagonal structures such as the Hall of Dreams at Hōryū-ji built as memorial halls and storehouses exemplified by the Shōsōin first appeared during the Nara period. [8] [16] Temple structures, such as pagodas and main halls, had increased significantly in size since the late 6th century. The placement of the pagoda moved to a more peripheral location and the roof bracketing system increased in complexity as roofs grew larger and heavier. [17]
The early Heian period (9th–10th century) saw an evolution of style based on the esoteric sects Tendai and Shingon, which were situated in mountainous areas. A new style termed 和様 ( wayō , Japanese style) emerged with the following characteristics: a main hall divided in two parts; an outer area for novices and an inner area for initiates; a hip-and-gable roof that covered both areas; a raised wooden floor instead of the tile or stone floors of earlier temples; extended eaves to cover the front steps; shingles or bark rather than tile roofing; and an adaption to the natural environment in contrast to symmetrical layouts. [10] [18] The tahōtō, a two-storied tower with a resemblance to Indian stupas was also introduced by these sects during the Heian period. [19] [20] According to an ancient Buddhist prophecy, the world would enter a dark period in 1051. During this period the Tendai sect believed enlightenment was possible only by the veneration of Amida Buddha. Consequently, Paradise or Amida Halls—such as the Phoenix Hall at Byōdō-in (1053), the main hall of Jōruri-ji (1157) or the Golden Hall at Chūson-ji (1124)—were built by the imperial family or members of the aristocracy to recreate the western paradise of Amida on earth. [16] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] Halls that enshrined the nine statues of Amida [nb 2] were popular during the 12th century in the late Heian period. The main hall of Jōruri-ji is the only extant example of these halls. [16] [26]
The Daibutsu style and the Zen style emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. The Daibutsu or Great Buddha style, introduced by the priest Chogen, was based on Song dynasty architecture and represented the antithesis of the wayō style. The Nandaimon at Tōdai-ji and the Amida Hall at Jōdo-ji are the only extant examples of this style. [10] [27] [28] Characteristics of the Zen style are earthen floors, subtly curved pent roofs ( mokoshi ) and pronouncedly curved main roofs, cusped windows and panelled doors. [27] [29] Examples of this style include Butsuden at Kōzan-ji in Shimonoseki, Shakadō at Zenpuku-in and Octagonal Three-storied Pagoda at Anraku-ji. [30] The three Japanese styles, wayō, Daibutsu and Zen were combined in the Muromachi period giving rise to a conglomerate eclectic style represented by the main hall at Kakurin-ji. [10] [29] By the end of the Muromachi period (late 16th century), Japanese Buddhist architecture had reached its apogee. [29] Construction methods had been perfected and building types conventionalized. Early pre-modern temples were saved from monotony by elaborate structural details, the use of undulating karahafu gables and monumental size of the buildings. [29] Representative examples for Momoyama (1568–1603) and Edo period (1603–1868) temple architecture are the Karamon at Hōgon-ji and the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera respectively. [29]
Period | National Treasures |
---|---|
Asuka period | 5 |
Nara period | 20 |
Heian period | 20 |
Kamakura period | 54 |
Muromachi period | 29 |
Momoyama period | 11 |
Edo period | 19 [nb 1] |
Prefecture | City | National Treasures |
---|---|---|
Aichi | Kira | 1 |
Ehime | Matsuyama | 3 |
Fukui | Obama | 2 |
Fukushima | Iwaki | 1 |
Gifu | Tajimi | 2 |
Takayama | 1 | |
Hiroshima | Fukuyama | 2 |
Hiroshima | 1 | |
Onomichi | 3 | |
Hyōgo | Kakogawa | 2 |
Kasai | 1 | |
Katō | 1 | |
Kobe | 1 | |
Ono | 1 | |
Iwate | Hiraizumi | 1 |
Kagawa | Mitoyo | 1 |
Kanagawa | Kamakura | 1 |
Kōchi | Ōtoyo | 1 |
Kyoto | Ayabe | 1 |
Kizugawa | 3 | |
Kyoto | 26 | |
Uji | 2 | |
Mie | Tsu | 2 |
Miyagi | Matsushima | 2 |
Nagano | Aoki | 1 |
Nagano | 1 | |
Ueda | 1 | |
Nagasaki | Nagasaki | 2 |
Nara | Gojō | 1 |
Ikaruga | 19 | |
Ikoma | 1 | |
Katsuragi | 3 | |
Nara | 29 | |
Sakurai | 1 | |
Uda | 3 | |
Yoshino | 2 | |
Ōita | Bungotakada | 1 |
Osaka | Izumisano | 1 |
Kaizuka | 1 | |
Kawachinagano | 1 | |
Shiga | Aishō | 1 |
Konan | 4 | |
Kōra | 2 | |
Nagahama | 1 | |
Ōtsu | 4 | |
Tochigi | Ashikaga | 1 |
Tokyo | Higashimurayama | 1 |
Toyama | Takaoka | 2 [nb 1] |
Wakayama | Iwade | 1 |
Kainan | 4 | |
Kōya | 2 | |
Yamagata | Tsuruoka | 1 |
Yamaguchi | Shimonoseki | 1 |
Yamaguchi | 1 | |
Yamanashi | Kōshū | 1 |
Yamanashi | 1 |
The table's columns (except for Remarks and Image) are sortable pressing the arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.
Name | Temple | Remarks | Date | Location | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Hall (金色堂, konjikidō) [nb 3] [26] [31] | Chūson-ji | 3×3, 18 m (59 ft) square, single-storied, hōgyō style [ex 1] roof with wooden shingles of the hongawara type [ex 2] | Heian period, 1124 | lateHiraizumi, Iwate 39°0′4.9″N141°5′59.6″E / 39.001361°N 141.099889°E | |
Priest's Quarters (庫裏, kuri ) and Corridors (廊下, rōka) [nb 4] [34] | Zuigan-ji | Kuri: 23.6 m × 13.8 m (77 ft × 45 ft), single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] entrance in the gable ends, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] Corridors: between kuri and main hall ( hondō ), lengths: 2 ken (entrance hall), 6 ken (east corridor), 11 ken (middle corridor), 2 ken (west corridor); each is 1 ken wide, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] | Momoyama period, 1609 | Matsushima, Miyagi 38°22′20″N141°3′36.8″E / 38.37222°N 141.060222°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 5] [34] | Zuigan-ji | 13×8, 39.0 m × 25.2 m (128.0 ft × 82.7 ft), single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] and attached entrance hall | Momoyama period, 1609 | Matsushima, Miyagi 38°22′19.7″N141°3′34.4″E / 38.372139°N 141.059556°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [37] [38] [39] | Three Mountains of Dewa | 3×3, height: 29.0 m (95.1 ft), five-storied pagoda covered with hinoki cypress shingles | Muromachi period, 1372 | earlyTsuruoka, Yamagata 38°42′17.01″N139°58′3.08″E / 38.7047250°N 139.9675222°E | |
Shiramizu Amidadō (白水阿弥陀堂) [40] | Ganjō-ji | 3×3, single-storied, hōgyō style, [ex 1] tochibuki board roofing, [ex 5] temple hall containing an enshrined image of Amitabha | Heian period, 1160 | lateIwaki, Fukushima 37°2′11.42″N140°50′14.79″E / 37.0365056°N 140.8374417°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [43] | Banna-ji | 5×5, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] front step canopy is 3 ken, nokikarahafu gable, [ex 6] back canopy 1 ken, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1299 | Ashikaga, Tochigi 36°20′15.1″N139°27′8.1″E / 36.337528°N 139.452250°E | |
Jizō Hall (地蔵堂, jizōdō) [nb 6] [44] | Shōfuku-ji | 3×3, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] covered with hinoki cypress shingles, with a pent roof enclosure [ex 7] of copper-tile roofing, oldest intact building in Tokyo | Muromachi period, 1407 | middleHigashimurayama, Tokyo 35°45′50.81″N139°27′33.02″E / 35.7641139°N 139.4591722°E | |
Shariden (舎利殿) [46] | Engaku-ji | 3×3 reliquary hall, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Muromachi period | middleKamakura, Kanagawa 35°20′21.52″N139°32′56.24″E / 35.3393111°N 139.5489556°E | |
Buddha Hall (仏殿, butsuden) [nb 7] [nb 1] [47] | Zuiryū-ji | 3×3 reliquary hall, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] lead plate roofing | Edo period, 1659 | earlyTakaoka, Toyama 36°44′8.12″N137°0′37.8″E / 36.7355889°N 137.010500°E | |
Lecture Hall (法堂, hōdō, hattō) [nb 1] [48] | Zuiryū-ji | 11×9 main hall of worship, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a 2×1 step canopy and a karahafu gable, [ex 8] single-storied, copper plate roofing | Edo period, 1655 | earlyTakaoka, Toyama 36°44′8.48″N137°0′36.07″E / 36.7356889°N 137.0100194°E | |
Sanmon (山門) [nb 1] [nb 8] [50] | Zuiryū-ji | two-storied sangen-ikko (三間一戸) gate, irimoya style, [ex 4] covered with hinoki cypress shingles includes two 3×1 stairway buildings (山廊, sanrō) to either side of the gate: single-storied, kirizuma style [ex 3] with hinoki cypress shingles | Edo period, 1818 | lateTakaoka, Toyama 36°44′8″N137°0′40.11″E / 36.73556°N 137.0111417°E | |
Main Hall and Large Hall with timber platform (本堂、大広間及式台, hondō ōhiroma oyobi shikidai) [51] | Shōkō-ji | Main Hall: 39.4 m × 37.5 m (129 ft × 123 ft), single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 3 ken step canopy and metal plate roofing Large Hall: 18.5 m × 19.7 m (61 ft × 65 ft), single-storied, front irimoya style, [ex 4] back kirizuma style [ex 3] Timber Platform: 16.1 m × 13.9 m (53 ft × 46 ft), single-storied, front irimoya style, [ex 4] back kirizuma style [ex 3] | Edo period, middle 17th century (Large Hall (大広間, ōhiroma)) and 1795 (main hall (本堂, hondō)) | Takaoka, Toyama | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [52] | Myōtsū-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1270 | earlyObama, Fukui 35°27′12.43″N135°48′15.5″E / 35.4534528°N 135.804306°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [52] | Myōtsū-ji | 5×6, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1258 | earlyObama, Fukui 35°27′12.8″N135°48′16″E / 35.453556°N 135.80444°E | |
Buddha Hall (仏殿, butsuden) [53] | Seihaku-ji | 3×3, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Muromachi period, 1415 | middleYamanashi, Yamanashi 35°41′37.5″N138°42′28.94″E / 35.693750°N 138.7080389°E | |
Yakushi Hall (薬師堂, yakushidō) or Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 9] [54] | Daizen-ji | 5×5, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles, characteristic for the eastern Japanese style | Kamakura period, 1286 | lateKōshū, Yamanashi 35°39′25.84″N138°44′34.86″E / 35.6571778°N 138.7430167°E | |
Octagonal Three-storied Pagoda (八角三重塔, hakkaku sanjūnotō) [nb 10] [56] | Anraku-ji | three-storied octagonal pagoda, first roof is a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] covered with hinoki cypress shingles, only extant octagonal pagoda in Japan | Kamakura period | lateUeda, Nagano 36°21′8.62″N138°9′8.2″E / 36.3523944°N 138.152278°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 11] [57] | Zenkō-ji | 14×5, single-storied with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] shumoku-zukuri (撞木造), entrance in the gable ends, front step canopy is 3 ken, nokikarahafu gable; [ex 6] step canopies on either side are 1 ken, everything is covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Edo period, 1707 | middleNagano, Nagano 36°39′41.76″N138°11′15.68″E / 36.6616000°N 138.1876889°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) | Daihō-ji (大法寺) | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Muromachi period, 1333 | earlyAoki, Nagano 36°22′56.54″N138°8′54.55″E / 36.3823722°N 138.1484861°E | |
Scripture House (経蔵, kyōzō ) | Ankoku-ji (安国寺) | Buddhist sutra storehouse, 1×1, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] covered with hinoki cypress shingles, includes an octagonal rotating sutra shelf (輪蔵, rinzō) | Muromachi period, 1408 | middleTakayama, Gifu 36°13′28.6″N137°14′42.2″E / 36.224611°N 137.245056°E | |
Kannon Hall (観音堂, kannondō) [58] | Eihō-ji | 3×3, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1314 | lateTajimi, Gifu 35°20′47.08″N137°7′48.57″E / 35.3464111°N 137.1301583°E | |
Founder's Hall (開山堂, kaisandō) [nb 12] [59] | Eihō-ji | worship hall (外陣, gejin) 3×3 and inner sanctum (内陣, naijin) 1×1 connected via an intermediate passage (相の間, ai no ma); All structures are single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] and have hinoki cypress bark roofing. The naijin has a pent roof enclosure. [ex 7] | Muromachi period | earlyTajimi, Gifu 35°20′46.12″N137°7′45.08″E / 35.3461444°N 137.1291889°E | |
Amida Hall (弥陀堂, amidadō) [60] | Konren-ji (金蓮寺) | 3×3, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hinoki cypress bark roofing | Kamakura period | lateKira, Aichi 34°48′33.69″N137°4′21.05″E / 34.8093583°N 137.0725139°E | |
Miei Hall (御影堂, mieidō) [61] | Senju-ji | 9×9, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 3 ken step canopy hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Edo period, 1666 | middleTsu, Mie 34°45′43.65″N136°30′12.38″E / 34.7621250°N 136.5034389°E | |
Nyorai Hall (如来堂, nyoraidō) [61] | Senju-ji | 5×4, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] a 3 ken step canopy and a karahafu gable, [ex 8] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Edo period, 1748 | middleTsu, Mie 34°45′44.75″N136°30′10.13″E / 34.7624306°N 136.5028139°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kon-dō ) [nb 13] [62] | Mii-dera | 7×7, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 3 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark roofing | Momoyama period, 1599 | Ōtsu, Shiga 35°0′48.25″N135°51′10.3″E / 35.0134028°N 135.852861°E | |
Konpon-chūdō (根本中堂) [nb 14] [63] [64] | Enryaku-ji | 11×6, 37.6 m × 23.9 m (123 ft × 78 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] copper sheeting over wooden plannks with semi-circular battens covering the seams; main hall founded in 788 by Dengyō Daishi with an "Inextinguishable Dharma Light" burining inside in front of the Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha). part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Edo period, 1640 | earlyŌtsu, Shiga 35°4′13.64″N135°50′27.39″E / 35.0704556°N 135.8409417°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 15] [65] | Kongōrin-ji | 7×7, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Muromachi period | earlyAishō, Shiga 35°9′40.57″N136°16′58.95″E / 35.1612694°N 136.2830417°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [nb 16] [66] | Jōraku-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1400 | middleKonan, Shiga 34°59′25.09″N136°2′57.22″E / 34.9903028°N 136.0492278°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 17] [66] | Jōraku-ji | 7×6, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 3 ken step canopy and hinoki cypress bark roofing | Muromachi period, 1360 | earlyKonan, Shiga 34°59′24.48″N136°2′54.7″E / 34.9901333°N 136.048528°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [67] [68] | Saimyō-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period | lateKōra, Shiga 35°10′58.83″N136°17′6.82″E / 35.1830083°N 136.2852278°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [67] [69] | Saimyō-ji | 7×7, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 3 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period | earlyKōra, Shiga 35°10′59.63″N136°17′7.63″E / 35.1832306°N 136.2854528°E | |
Tahōtō (多宝塔) [nb 18] [70] | Ishiyama-dera | 3×3, two-storied Buddhist tower with a pent roof, square base and round top, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1194 | earlyŌtsu, Shiga 34°57′39.48″N135°54′21.43″E / 34.9609667°N 135.9059528°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō) [70] | Ishiyama-dera | Hon-dō : 7×4, Ai-no-ma: 1×7, Worship hall (礼堂, rai-dō): 9×4, overhang style (懸造, kake-zukuri), rai-dō and hon-dō are in yosemune style [ex 9] and connected via the roof of the ai-no-ma, each of the three structures is covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles | Heian period, 1096 | lateŌtsu, Shiga 34°57′37.66″N135°54′20.26″E / 34.9604611°N 135.9056278°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 9] [71] | Zensui-ji | 7×5, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress bark shingles | Muromachi period, 1366 | earlyKonan, Shiga 35°0′23.2″N136°6′45.2″E / 35.006444°N 136.112556°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 9] [72] | Chōju-ji (長寿寺) | 5×5, single-storied, yosemune style [ex 9] with a 3 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period | earlyKonan, Shiga 34°59′7.17″N136°3′35.62″E / 34.9853250°N 136.0598944°E | |
Karamon (唐門) [nb 6] [29] [73] | Hōgon-ji | four-legged gate [ex 10] with karahafu gables [ex 8] over the front and back entrance, 3.3 m × 6.1 m (11 ft × 20 ft), hinoki cypress bark shingles; entrance to the Kannon hall | Momoyama period, 1603 | Nagahama, Shiga 35°25′14.04″N136°8′37.63″E / 35.4205667°N 136.1437861°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [75] | Kaijūsen-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] first roof is a pent roof enclosure [ex 7] of copper-tile roofing | Kamakura period, 1214 | earlyKizugawa, Kyoto 34°46′36.33″N135°51′43.33″E / 34.7767583°N 135.8620361°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kon-dō ) [nb 6] [76] | Tō-ji | 5×3, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Momoyama period, 1603 | Kyoto 34°58′49.32″N135°44′51.67″E / 34.9803667°N 135.7476861°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [77] | Tō-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] at 54.8 m (180 ft) highest wooden pagoda in Japan, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Edo period, 1643 | earlyKyoto 34°58′47.59″N135°44′55.34″E / 34.9798861°N 135.7487056°E | |
Daishi Hall (大師堂, daishidō) or Miei Hall (御影堂, mieidō) (west section): ushiro-dō (後堂), mae-dō (前堂) and chūmon (中門) [nb 19] [78] | Tō-ji | ushiro-dō: 7×4, irimoya style, [ex 4] 2 ken hisashi on the north-western end, 1 ken step canopy on the east side mae-dō: 4×5, north side irimoya style, [ex 4] connected to the ushiro-dō in the south | Muromachi period, 1380 | earlyKyoto 34°58′53.91″N135°44′48.45″E / 34.9816417°N 135.7467917°E | |
Lotus Flower Gate (蓮花門, rengemon) | Tō-ji | eight-legged gate, [ex 11] kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Kamakura period | earlyKyoto 34°58′50.44″N135°44′46.73″E / 34.9806778°N 135.7463139°E | |
Niōmon (二王門, niōmon) [80] | Kōmyō-ji (光明寺) | two-storied sangen-ikko (三間一戸) gate, irimoya style, [ex 4] tochibuki board roofing [ex 5] | Kamakura period, 1248 | earlyAyabe, Kyoto 35°23′14.63″N135°26′31.41″E / 35.3873972°N 135.4420583°E | |
Keigū-in Main Hall (桂宮院本堂, keigu-in hondō) [nb 9] [81] | Kōryū-ji | octagonal hall, single-storied, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, before 1251 | earlyKyoto, Kyoto 35°0′54.1″N135°42′19.53″E / 35.015028°N 135.7054250°E | — |
Sekisui-in (石水院) [nb 5] | Kōzan-ji | (3 (front) or 4 (back))x3, with a 1 ken hisashi on the front side, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] entrance on gable ends, hinoki cypress shingles | Kamakura period | earlyKyoto, Kyoto 35°3′36.48″N135°40′42.72″E / 35.0601333°N 135.6785333°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [82] | Jōruri-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Heian period, before 1178 | lateKizugawa, Kyoto 34°42′56.34″N135°52′24.94″E / 34.7156500°N 135.8735944°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [16] [82] | Jōruri-ji | 11×4, 33.8 m × 16.5 m (111 ft × 54 ft), yosemune style [ex 9] with a 1 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Heian period, 1157 | lateKizugawa, Kyoto 34°42′56.81″N135°52′21.49″E / 34.7157806°N 135.8726361°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kon-dō ) [83] | Ninna-ji | 7×5, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Momoyama period, 1613 | Kyoto 35°1′51.88″N135°42′49.72″E / 35.0310778°N 135.7138111°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 20] [29] [84] | Kiyomizu-dera | 9×7, 33.5 m × 33.2 m (110 ft × 109 ft), single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] pent roof enclosure [ex 7] on east, north and west side, hinoki cypress bark shingles, includes a stage, temple is part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Edo period, 1633 | earlyKyoto 34°59′41.4″N135°47′5.83″E / 34.994833°N 135.7849528°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 21] [85] | Daisen-in (Daitoku-ji) | 14.8 m × 10.8 m (49 ft × 35 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] copper-tile roofing | Muromachi period, 1513 | lateKyoto 35°2′40.37″N135°44′44.72″E / 35.0445472°N 135.7457556°E | |
Hōjō (方丈) with Entrance (玄関, genkan) [nb 5] | Daitoku-ji | Hōjō: 29.8 m × 17.0 m (97.8 ft × 55.8 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] sangawarabuki tile roof, [ex 12] connected to the (雲門庵) at the back; Entrance: 6×1, single-storied, karahafu gable, [ex 8] sangawarabuki tile roof; [ex 12] | Edo period, 1635, (entrance from 1636) | earlyKyoto 35°2′38.4″N135°44′47.2″E / 35.044000°N 135.746444°E | — |
Karamon (唐門) | Daitoku-ji | four-legged gate, [ex 10] kirizuma style, [ex 3] nokikarahafu gable [ex 6] on front and back, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Momoyama period | Kyoto 35°2′37.51″N135°44′47.14″E / 35.0437528°N 135.7464278°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) or Senbon Shakadō (千本釈迦堂) [nb 22] [87] | Daihōon-ji | 5×6, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1227 | earlyKyoto 35°1′54.68″N135°44′23.44″E / 35.0318556°N 135.7398444°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kondō) [nb 6] [88] [89] | Daigo-ji | 7×5, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] principal hall relocated from Yuasa, Wakayama which was completed in 1600. part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Heian period | lateKyoto 34°57′5.33″N135°49′18.29″E / 34.9514806°N 135.8217472°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [88] [89] | Daigo-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda, height: 38 m (125 ft) including the 13 m (43 ft) finial, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Heian period, 952 | middleKyoto 34°57′2.1″N135°49′19.67″E / 34.950583°N 135.8221306°E | |
Yakushi Hall (薬師堂, yakushidō) [90] | Daigo-ji (Upper Daigo (上醍醐, kamidaigo)) | 5×4, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress bark shingles, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Heian period, 1121 | lateKyoto 34°56′44.25″N135°50′19.46″E / 34.9456250°N 135.8387389°E | |
Sanmon (三門) [4] [91] | Chion-in | large 5 ken or 50 m (160 ft) wide, 24 m (79 ft) high two-storied gate with entrances in the three central bays, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] includes two 3×2 stairway buildings (山廊, sanrō) to either side of the gate: single-storied, kirizuma style [ex 3] with hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] largest extant two-storied, double-roofed gate | Edo period, 1621 | earlyKyoto 35°0′17.28″N135°46′54.5″E / 35.0048000°N 135.781806°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) or Miei Hall (御影堂, mieidō) [nb 23] [91] | Chion-in | 11×9, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 5 ken step canopy at the front and a 3 ken step canopy at the back | Edo period, 1639 | earlyKyoto 35°0′18.86″N135°47′0.19″E / 35.0052389°N 135.7833861°E | |
Sanmon (三門) [92] | Tōfuku-ji | large 5 ken, 22 m (72 ft) high two-storied gate with entrances in the three central bays, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] includes two stairway buildings (山廊, sanrō) to either side of the gate: single-storied, kirizuma style [ex 3] with hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] oldest Zen main gate in Japan | Muromachi period, 1425 | middleKyoto 34°58′32.53″N135°46′25.47″E / 34.9757028°N 135.7737417°E | |
Hōjō (方丈) [93] | Nanzen-ji | ōhōjō (大方丈): irimoya style [ex 4] ōhōjō (小方 丈): back side with a kirizuma style [ex 3] gable, front connected to the ōhōjō | Momoyama period, 1573–1591 | middleKyoto 35°0′41.09″N135°47′40.06″E / 35.0114139°N 135.7944611°E | |
Phoenix Hall (鳳凰堂, hōōdō): central hall (中堂, chū-dō), wing corridors (両翼廊, ryōyokurō), (尾廊) [nb 24] [94] | Byōdō-in | central hall: 3×2, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] wing corridors: 8×1 (with bends), single storied with an upper floor, kirizuma style; [ex 3] corner towers are two-storied with three floors, hōgyō style, [ex 1] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Heian period, 1053 | middleUji, Kyoto 34°53′21.49″N135°48′27.6″E / 34.8893028°N 135.807667°E | |
Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿, daiō hōden), Hattō (法堂) and tennōden (天王殿) [95] | Manpuku-ji | Uji, Kyoto | |||
Amida Hall (阿弥陀堂, amidadō) | Hōkai-ji (法界寺) | 5×5, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] hōgyō style, [ex 1] hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period | earlyKyoto 34°56′2.91″N135°48′53.61″E / 34.9341417°N 135.8148917°E | |
Amida Hall (阿弥陀堂, amidadō) [96] | Nishi Honganji | 45.2 m × 42.1 m (148 ft × 138 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] 3 ken lean-to eaves (向拝, kohai),hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Edo period, 1760 | lateKyoto 34°59′31.74″N135°45′6.04″E / 34.9921500°N 135.7516778°E | |
Goeidō (御影堂) [96] | Nishi Honganji | 62.1 m × 53.8 m (204 ft × 177 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] 3 ken lean-to eaves (向拝, kohai),hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Edo period, 1636 | Kyoto 34°59′29.02″N135°45′6.08″E / 34.9913944°N 135.7516889°E | |
Karamon (唐門) [97] | Nishi Honganji | four-legged gate [ex 10] with karahafu gables [ex 8] on the front and back, sides are irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress bark shingles, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Momoyama period, ca. 1598 | Kyoto 34°59′25.31″N135°45′3.93″E / 34.9903639°N 135.7510917°E | |
Priest's Quarters (庫裏, kuri) | Myōhō-in (妙法院) | 21.8 m × 23.7 m (72 ft × 78 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] entrance in gable ends, 1 ken entrance hall with karahafu gable, [ex 8] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] hisashi in the north | Momoyama period, 1573–1614 | Kyoto 34°59′25.41″N135°46′30.71″E / 34.9903917°N 135.7751972°E | |
Hōjō (方丈) [nb 25] [92] | Ryōginan (竜吟庵) (Tōfuku-ji) | 16.5 m × 12.9 m (54 ft × 42 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress shingles, residence of the head priest | Muromachi period, 1387 | earlyKyoto 34°58′38.79″N135°46′29.44″E / 34.9774417°N 135.7748444°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 6] [98] | Sanjūsangen-dō | 35×5, single-storied, kirizuma style [ex 3] with a 7 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1266 | Kyoto 34°59′16.12″N135°46′18.15″E / 34.9878111°N 135.7717083°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kondō) [nb 6] [99] | Kanshin-ji | 7×7, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 3 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] principal hall | Muromachi period, Shōhei era | earlyKawachinagano, Osaka 34°26′14.48″N135°35′54.8″E / 34.4373556°N 135.598556°E | |
Kannon Hall (観音堂, kannondō) | Kōon-ji (孝恩寺) | 5×5, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1300 | lateKaizuka, Osaka 34°23′49.85″N135°23′40.21″E / 34.3971806°N 135.3945028°E | |
Tahōtō (多宝塔) [nb 26] [100] | Jigen-in (慈眼院) | 3×3, two-storied Buddhist tower (tahōtō), hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1271 | earlyIzumisano, Osaka 34°22′27.3″N135°20′36.0″E / 34.374250°N 135.343333°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [101] | Ichijō-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Heian period, 1171 | lateKasai, Hyōgo 34°51′32.28″N134°49′8.46″E / 34.8589667°N 134.8190167°E | |
Jōdo Hall (浄土堂, jōdodō) or Amida Hall (阿弥陀堂, amidadō) [27] [102] | Jōdo-ji | 3×3, 18 m (59 ft) squared, single-storied, hōgyō style, [ex 1] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1192 | earlyOno, Hyōgo 34°51′51.27″N134°57′39.89″E / 34.8642417°N 134.9610806°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [103] | Taisan-ji | 7×6, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] gable roof covered with copper | Kamakura period, 1285 | lateKobe, Hyōgo 34°41′47.73″N135°4′2.81″E / 34.6965917°N 135.0674472°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 27] | Chōkō-ji | 7×7, single-storied, yosemune style [ex 9] with a 3 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1413–1428 | middleKatō, Hyōgo 34°55′56.86″N135°2′37.86″E / 34.9324611°N 135.0438500°E | |
Taishidō (太子堂) [104] | Kakurin-ji | 3×3, single-storied, hōgyō style, [ex 1] hinoki cypress bark shingles | Heian period, 1112 | lateKakogawa, Hyōgo 34°45′7.66″N134°49′58.14″E / 34.7521278°N 134.8328167°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 5] [29] [104] | Kakurin-ji | 7×6, 17 m × 15.2 m (56 ft × 50 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1397 | middleKakogawa, Hyōgo 34°45′8.18″N134°49′57.29″E / 34.7522722°N 134.8325806°E | |
Small Five-storied Pagoda (五重小塔, gojū-no-shōtō) [nb 28] [105] | Kairyūō-ji (海龍王寺) | 3×3, 4.0 m (13.1 ft) high miniature pagoda, wooden hongawarabuki shaped roof [ex 2] | Nara period, Tenpyō era | Nara, Nara 34°45′8.18″N134°49′57.29″E / 34.7522722°N 134.8325806°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [106] [107] | Kōfuku-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda, second highest pagoda in Japan at 50.1 m (164 ft), hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] restoration from 1426 of an original pagoda from 730, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Muromachi period, 1426 | middleNara, Nara 34°40′56.92″N135°49′56.03″E / 34.6824778°N 135.8322306°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [106] [108] | Kōfuku-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] reconstruction from the beginning of the Kamakura period of an original pagoda from 1143, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period | earlyNara, Nara 34°40′56.11″N135°49′46.89″E / 34.6822528°N 135.8296917°E | |
Eastern Golden Hall (東金堂, tōkondō) [106] [109] | Kōfuku-ji | 7×4, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] the remaining of the three golden halls, reconstruction from 1415 of an original structure from 726, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Muromachi period, 1425 | middleNara, Nara 34°40′58.42″N135°49′56.01″E / 34.6828944°N 135.8322250°E | |
North Octagonal Hall (北円堂, hokuendō) [nb 29] [106] [110] | Kōfuku-ji | octagonal hall, single-storied, hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] reconstruction from 1426 of an original hall built in 721 to honor the first anniversary of the death of Fujiwara no Fuhito, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period, 1210 | earlyNara, Nara 34°41′0.42″N135°49′47.76″E / 34.6834500°N 135.8299333°E | |
Niō Gate (二王門, niōmon) [nb 30] | Kinpusen-ji | two-storied sangen-ikko (三間一戸) gate, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1456 | middleYoshino, Nara 34°22′8.03″N135°51′32.24″E / 34.3688972°N 135.8589556°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) or Zaō Hall (蔵王堂, zaōdō) | Kinpusen-ji | 5×6, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] hinoki cypress bark shingles | Momoyama period, 1591 | Yoshino, Nara 34°22′6.09″N135°51′32.17″E / 34.3683583°N 135.8589361°E | |
Small Five-storied Pagoda (五重小塔, gojū-no-shōtō) [14] [111] | Gangō-ji Gokurakubō (元興寺極楽坊) | 3×3, 5.5 m (18 ft) tall miniature pagoda, wooden hongawarabuki shaped roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, late 8th century | Nara, Nara 34°40′39.07″N135°49′52.84″E / 34.6775194°N 135.8313444°E | |
Zen Room (禅室, zenshitsu) [14] [112] | Gangō-ji Gokurakubō (元興寺極楽坊) | 4×4, single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] with smooth, lipless, semi-cylindrical cover tiles (行基葺, gyōgibuki); [113] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, contains lumber used in the construction of Asuka-dera, one of the first Buddhist temples in Japan | Kamakura period | earlyNara, Nara 34°40′40.65″N135°49′51.59″E / 34.6779583°N 135.8309972°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō), [nb 31] [112] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Gangō-ji Gokurakubō (元興寺極楽坊) | 6×6, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] entrance in gable ends, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] with smooth, lipless, semi-cylindrical cover tiles (行基葺, gyōgibuki), [113] 1 ken wide open veranda on the front side, contains an akadana (閼伽棚) | Kamakura period, 1244 | earlyNara, Nara 34°40′40.57″N135°49′52.7″E / 34.6779361°N 135.831306°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kon-dō ) [114] | Murō-ji | 5×5, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hinoki cypress shingles; principal hall | Heian period | earlyUda, Nara 34°32′16.4″N136°02′26.2″E / 34.537889°N 136.040611°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [115] | Murō-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Heian period | earlyUda, Nara 34°32′17.42″N136°2′25.18″E / 34.5381722°N 136.0403278°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) or Kanjō Hall (灌頂堂, kanjōdō) [nb 32] [116] | Murō-ji | 5×5, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1308 | lateUda, Nara 34°32′16.44″N136°2′26.09″E / 34.5379000°N 136.0405806°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) | Akishinodera | 5×4, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period | earlyNara, Nara 34°42′13.57″N135°46′34.28″E / 34.7037694°N 135.7761889°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [117] | Jūrin-in (十輪院) | 5×4, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period | earlyNara, Nara 34°40′35.08″N135°49′59.48″E / 34.6764111°N 135.8331889°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [14] [118] | Shin-Yakushi-ji | 7×5, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Nara period, 747 | Nara, Nara 34°40′33.35″N135°50′46.19″E / 34.6759306°N 135.8461639°E | |
Shōsōin [16] [119] | Tōdai-ji | treasure house, oldest surviving example of the azekura log-cabin style with a raised floor, 9×3, 108.4 m × 30.5 m (356 ft × 100 ft), single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Nara period, ca. 756 | Nara, Nara 34°41′31.11″N135°50′18.84″E / 34.6919750°N 135.8385667°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 33] [120] | Chōkyū-ji (長弓寺) | 5×6, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1279 | lateIkoma, Nara 34°43′6.92″N135°43′38.28″E / 34.7185889°N 135.7273000°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 34] [121] | Hase-dera | Worship Hall (正堂, shōdō): 7×4, with a pent roof [ex 7] on the front and either side Ai-no-ma and Worship Hall (礼堂, raidō): 4×9, overhang style, entrance in gable ends, connected to the shōdō in the back side, chidori hafu bargeboards [ex 13] on either side, attached to a stage on the front side, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Edo period, 1650 | earlySakurai, Nara 34°32′9.27″N135°54′24.51″E / 34.5359083°N 135.9068083°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kon-dō ) [nb 35] [16] [123] | Tōshōdai-ji | 7×4, 27.9 m × 14.6 m (92 ft × 48 ft), single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] principal hall, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, 8th century | Nara, Nara 34°40′32.23″N135°47′5.43″E / 34.6756194°N 135.7848417°E | |
Scripture House (経蔵, kyōzō ) [124] | Tōshōdai-ji | Buddhist sutra storehouse, 3×3, storehouse style (校倉, azekura), yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, 8th century | Nara, Nara 34°40′32.22″N135°47′7.9″E / 34.6756167°N 135.785528°E | |
Korō (鼓楼) [nb 9] [125] | Tōshōdai-ji | 3×2, rō style, [ex 14] irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] with a drum for indicating the time, also served as a sutra repository, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period, 1240 | earlyNara, Nara 34°40′33.05″N135°47′6.25″E / 34.6758472°N 135.7850694°E | |
Lecture Hall (講堂, kōdō) [nb 36] [14] [127] | Tōshōdai-ji | 9×4, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] originally part of the Heijō Palace; now part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, 763 | Nara, Nara 34°40′33.36″N135°47′5.43″E / 34.6759333°N 135.7848417°E | |
Treasure House (宝蔵, hōzō) [128] | Tōshōdai-ji | 3×3, storehouse style (校倉, azekura), yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period | Nara, Nara 34°40′32.91″N135°47′7.91″E / 34.6758083°N 135.7855306°E | |
Founder's Hall (開山堂, kaizandō) [nb 37] [129] | Tōdai-ji | 3×3, single-storied, hōgyō style, [ex 1] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period, 1200 (inner temple), 1250 | earlyNara, Nara 34°41′20.65″N135°50′36.56″E / 34.6890694°N 135.8434889°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kondō) or Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿, daibutsuden) [nb 6] [29] [130] | Tōdai-ji | 5×5, 57 m × 50 m (187 ft × 164 ft), single-storied, yosemune style [ex 9] with a pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] karahafu gable [ex 8] on front side, copper-tile roofing; largest wooden building in the world, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Edo period, 1705 | middleNara, Nara 34°41′20.37″N135°50′23.36″E / 34.6889917°N 135.8398222°E | |
Belfry (鐘楼, shōrō) [nb 6] [27] | Tōdai-ji | 1×1, 7.6 m (25 ft) square, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period, Jōgen era | earlyNara, Nara 34°41′19.81″N135°50′31.33″E / 34.6888361°N 135.8420361°E | |
Tegaimon (転害門) [131] | Tōdai-ji | 3 ken wide eight-legged gate [ex 11] with a 1 ken passage, kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, around Tenpyō-hōji era | Nara, Nara 34°41′29.84″N135°50′6.29″E / 34.6916222°N 135.8350806°E | |
Nandaimon (南大門) [27] [132] | Tōdai-ji | large 5×2, 29 m × 11 m (95 ft × 36 ft), two-storied gate with entrances in the three central baysgate, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period, 1199 | earlyNara, Nara 34°41′8.83″N135°50′23.51″E / 34.6857861°N 135.8398639°E | |
Nigatsu-dō (二月堂) [133] | Tōdai-ji | overhang style, 10×7, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Edo period, 1669 | middleNara, Nara 34°41′21.39″N135°50′39.33″E / 34.6892750°N 135.8442583°E | |
Hokke-dō (法華堂) or Sangatsu-dō (三月堂) [nb 6] [134] | Tōdai-ji | front 5 ken, side 8 ken, front irimoya style, [ex 4] back yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] contains akadana (閼伽棚); part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, 747 (image hall (正堂, shōdō)) and 1199 (worship hall (礼堂, raidō)) | Nara, Nara 34°41′19.43″N135°50′38.54″E / 34.6887306°N 135.8440389°E | |
Scripture House (本坊経庫, honbōkyōko) | Tōdai-ji | Buddhist sutra storehouse, 3×2, storehouse style (校倉, azekura), yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period | Nara, Nara 34°41′9.33″N135°50′26.04″E / 34.6859250°N 135.8405667°E | |
Rōmon (楼門) | Hannya-ji | 1×1, two-storied gate, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, around Bun'ei era | earlyNara, Nara 34°41′59.5″N135°50′8″E / 34.699861°N 135.83556°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [135] | Hokki-ji | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Asuka period, 706 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°37′22.41″N135°44′46.71″E / 34.6228917°N 135.7463083°E | |
East Corridor (東廻廊, higashi kairō) and West Corridor (西廻廊, nishi kairō) [136] | Hōryū-ji | 42 ken (east corridor) and 40 ken (west corridor) long (with bends), single-storied, hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Asuka period, ca. 700 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′51.71″N135°44′5.1″E / 34.6143639°N 135.734750°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kondō) [nb 38] [1] [8] [14] | Hōryū-ji | 5×4, double-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with pent roof enclosure [ex 7] on first floor, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] wood shingles (pent roof); together with Hōryū-ji's five-storied pagoda one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world, principal hall, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Asuka period, by 693 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′51.54″N135°44′4.05″E / 34.6143167°N 135.7344583°E | |
Scripture House (経蔵, kyōzō ) [137] | Hōryū-ji | Buddhist sutra storehouse, 3×2, rō style, [ex 14] kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Nara period | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′52.52″N135°44′1.82″E / 34.6145889°N 135.7338389°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [2] [14] [138] | Hōryū-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda with a pent roof enclosure [ex 7] on the first level, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] wood shingles (pent roof); together with Hōryū-ji's kon-dō one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world, at 50 m (160 ft) second tallest pagoda in Japan, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Asuka period, ca. 703 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′51.38″N135°44′2.81″E / 34.6142722°N 135.7341139°E | |
Kōfūzō (綱封蔵) [139] | Hōryū-ji | large storehouse, 9×3, single-storied, raised floor, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Heian period | earlyIkaruga, Nara 34°36′51.98″N135°44′7.54″E / 34.6144389°N 135.7354278°E | |
Three Sutra Hall (三経院, sankyōin) and West Dormitory (西室, nishimuro) [nb 6] [140] | Hōryū-ji | 19×(5 (front) or 4 (back)), single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] entrance in gable ends, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] attached hisashi in front, with a 1 ken step canopy covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles; part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Kamakura period, 1231 | earlyIkaruga, Nara 34°36′51.17″N135°44′0.33″E / 34.6142139°N 135.7334250°E | |
Belfry (鐘楼, shōrō) [141] | Hōryū-ji | 3×2, rō style, [ex 14] kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Heian period, 1005–1020 | middleIkaruga, Nara 34°36′52.87″N135°44′4.52″E / 34.6146861°N 135.7345889°E | |
Refectory (食堂, jikidō) [142] | Hōryū-ji | 7×4, single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Nara period | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′53.02″N135°44′7.91″E / 34.6147278°N 135.7355306°E | |
Shōryō-in (聖霊院) [nb 6] [143] | Hōryū-ji | 6×5, single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] entrance in gable ends, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] attached hisashi in front, with a 1 ken step canopy covered with hinoki cypress bark shingles; hall dedicated to the soul of Prince Shōtoku, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Kamakura period, 1284 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′51.39″N135°44′5.96″E / 34.6142750°N 135.7349889°E | |
West Octagonal Hall (西円堂, saiendō) [nb 39] [144] | Hōryū-ji | octagonal hall, single-storied, hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Kamakura period, 1250 | earlyIkaruga, Nara 34°36′52.78″N135°43′58.93″E / 34.6146611°N 135.7330361°E | |
Large Lecture Hall (大講堂, daikōdō) [16] [145] | Hōryū-ji | 9×4, 33.8 m × 16.5 m (111 ft × 54 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] oldest extant building with a hidden roof; part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Heian period, 990 | middleIkaruga, Nara 34°36′53.22″N135°44′3.03″E / 34.6147833°N 135.7341750°E | |
Inner Gate (中門, chūmon) [146] | Hōryū-ji | 4×3 two-storied gate with entrance through the two central bays, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Asuka period, ca. 700 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′50.41″N135°44′3.51″E / 34.6140028°N 135.7343083°E | |
Belfry (鐘楼, shōrō) [141] | Hōryū-ji (East Precinct (東院, tōin)) | 3×2, flared skirt like lower part (袴腰, hakamagoshi), irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Kamakura period | earlyIkaruga, Nara 34°36′52.75″N135°44′19.18″E / 34.6146528°N 135.7386611°E | |
Denpōdō (伝法堂) [nb 6] [147] | Hōryū-ji (East Precinct (東院, tōin)) | 7×4, single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] lecture hall, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Nara period | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′53.1″N135°44′19.93″E / 34.614750°N 135.7388694°E | |
Hall of Dreams (夢殿, yumedono) [nb 5] [16] [148] | Hōryū-ji (East Precinct (東院, tōin)) | Large octagonal hall housing the famous Guze Kannon, single-storied, each side 4.2 m (14 ft) long, hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Nara period, 739 | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′51.91″N135°44′20.19″E / 34.6144194°N 135.7389417°E | |
East Dormitory (東室, higashimuro) [149] | Hōryū-ji | 12×4, single-storied, kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] living quarters for high-ranking priests, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Nara period | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′52.2″N135°44′5.89″E / 34.614500°N 135.7349694°E | |
Tōdaimon (東大門) [150] | Hōryū-ji | 3 ken wide eight-legged gate, [ex 11] kirizuma style, [ex 3] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] main east gate, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Nara period | Ikaruga, Nara 34°36′49.89″N135°44′12.08″E / 34.6138583°N 135.7366889°E | |
Nandaimon (南大門) [nb 40] [151] | Hōryū-ji | 3 ken wide eight-legged gate, [ex 11] irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] main south gate, part of the World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area | Muromachi period, 1438 | middleIkaruga, Nara 34°36′45.89″N135°44′4.26″E / 34.6127472°N 135.7345167°E | |
Tōindō (東院堂) [nb 41] [152] | Yakushi-ji | 7×4, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] meditation hall, rebuilt in 1285, oldest of its kind in Japan, part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Kamakura period, 1285 | lateNara, Nara 34°40′4.64″N135°47′6.66″E / 34.6679556°N 135.7851833°E | |
East Pagoda (東塔, tōtō) [14] [153] | Yakushi-ji | 3×3 three-storied pagoda, each level with a pent roof enclosure; [ex 7] part of the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara | Nara period, 730 | Nara, Nara 34°40′5.18″N135°47′4.88″E / 34.6681056°N 135.7846889°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 6] [154] | Ryōsen-ji | 5×6, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1283 | lateNara, Nara 34°40′25.01″N135°44′32.46″E / 34.6736139°N 135.7423500°E | |
Octagonal Hall (八角堂, hakkakudō) [nb 42] [155] | Eisan-ji (榮山寺) | octagonal hall, single-storied, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Nara period, Tenpyō-hōji era, 8th century | Gojō, Nara 34°21′21.25″N135°43′16.22″E / 34.3559028°N 135.7211722°E | |
West Pagoda (西塔, saitō) [156] | Taima-dera | 3×3 three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Heian period, 9th century | earlyKatsuragi, Nara 34°30′55.49″N135°41′40.24″E / 34.5154139°N 135.6945111°E | |
East Pagoda (東塔, tōtō) [156] | Taima-dera | 3×3 three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Nara period, 8th century | earlyKatsuragi, Nara 34°30′55.13″N135°41′44.58″E / 34.5153139°N 135.6957167°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) or Mandaradō (曼荼羅堂) [156] | Taima-dera | 7×6, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof, [ex 2] houses a large (39.7 cm x 39.1 cm) Mandala, contains an akadana (閼伽棚) | Heian period, 1161 | lateKatsuragi, Nara 34°30′57.83″N135°41′40.91″E / 34.5160639°N 135.6946972°E | |
Tahōtō (多宝塔) [157] | Kongō Sanmai-in | 3×3, two-storied Buddhist tower, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1223 | earlyKōya, Wakayama 34°12′34.95″N135°35′13.9″E / 34.2097083°N 135.587194°E | |
Fudōdō (不動堂) [158] | Kongōbu-ji | 3×4, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] with 1 (3) ken hisashi attached to the right (left) side, with a 1 ken step canopy, hinoki cypress bark shingles; hall dedicated to the deity Fudō Myōō | Kamakura period | earlyKōya, Wakayama 34°12′47.17″N135°34′49.43″E / 34.2131028°N 135.5803972°E | |
Tahōtō (多宝塔) or Daitō (大塔) [159] | Negoro-ji | 5×5, large two-storied Buddhist tower, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, Meiō era–Tenbun era | lateIwade, Wakayama 34°17′16.36″N135°19′2.76″E / 34.2878778°N 135.3174333°E | |
Shakadō (釈迦堂) [160] | Zenpuku-in (善福院) | 3×3, pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] hall in which a statue of the historical Buddha is enshrined | Kamakura period, 1327 | lateKainan, Wakayama 34°7′50.12″N135°10′38″E / 34.1305889°N 135.17722°E | |
Tahōtō (多宝塔) [161] | Chōhō-ji | 3×3, two-storied Buddhist tower | Muromachi period, 1357 | earlyKainan, Wakayama 34°6′32.21″N135°9′56.85″E / 34.1089472°N 135.1657917°E | |
Daimon (大門) [nb 43] [162] | Chōhō-ji | rōmon, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1388 | earlyKainan, Wakayama 34°6′28.12″N135°9′55.87″E / 34.1078111°N 135.1655194°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 9] [163] | Chōhō-ji | 5×5, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1311 | lateKainan, Wakayama 34°6′32.77″N135°9′56.34″E / 34.1091028°N 135.1656500°E | |
Three-storied Pagoda (三重塔, sanjūnotō) [164] | Kōjō-ji (向上寺) | 3×3, three-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1432 | middleOnomichi, Hiroshima 34°18′24.81″N133°5′12.04″E / 34.3068917°N 133.0866778°E | |
Tahōtō (多宝塔) [nb 44] [165] | Jōdo-ji | 3×3, two-storied Buddhist tower, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1328 | lateOnomichi, Hiroshima 34°24′42.54″N133°12′39.53″E / 34.4118167°N 133.2109806°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 45] [166] | Jōdo-ji | 5×5, single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1327 | lateOnomichi, Hiroshima 34°24′43.39″N133°12′39.05″E / 34.4120528°N 133.2108472°E | |
Golden Hall (金堂, kon-dō ) [167] | Fudō-in (不動院) | 3×4, pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress bark shingles; principal hall | Muromachi period, 1540 | lateHiroshima 34°25′37.25″N132°28′16.02″E / 34.4270139°N 132.4711167°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [168] | Myōō-in | 3×3, 4.4 m (14 ft), 29.1 m (95 ft) tall, five-storied pagoda, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Muromachi period, 1348 | earlyFukuyama, Hiroshima 34°28′41.82″N133°20′45.15″E / 34.4782833°N 133.3458750°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 46] [169] | Myōō-in | 5×5, 11.8 m × 11.8 m (39 ft × 39 ft) single-storied, irimoya style [ex 4] with a 1 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1321 | lateFukuyama, Hiroshima 34°28′42.56″N133°20′45.17″E / 34.4784889°N 133.3458806°E | |
Buddha Hall (仏殿, butsuden) [170] | Kōzan-ji | 3×3, irimoya style, [ex 4] pent roof enclosure, [ex 7] hinoki cypress bark shingles | Kamakura period, 1320 | lateShimonoseki, Yamaguchi 33°59′44.16″N130°58′54.42″E / 33.9956000°N 130.9817833°E | |
Five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) [nb 47] [171] | Rurikō-ji | 3×3, five-storied pagoda, hinoki cypress bark shingles | Muromachi period, 1442 | middleYamaguchi, Yamaguchi 34°11′24.65″N131°28′22.5″E / 34.1901806°N 131.472917°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hondō) [nb 48] [172] | Motoyama-ji | 5×5, single-storied, yosemune style [ex 9] with a 3 ken step canopy, hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1300 | lateMitoyo, Kagawa 34°8′22.91″N133°41′38.74″E / 34.1396972°N 133.6940944°E | |
Niō Gate (二王門, niōmon) [173] | Ishite-ji | 3 ken wide rōmon, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period, 1318 | lateMatsuyama, Ehime 33°50′51.11″N132°47′47.58″E / 33.8475306°N 132.7965500°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [27] | Taisan-ji | 7×9, 16.4 m × 21 m (54 ft × 69 ft), single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof; [ex 2] largest esoteric Buddhist hall | Kamakura period, 1305 | lateMatsuyama, Ehime 33°53′6.05″N132°42′53.86″E / 33.8850139°N 132.7149611°E | |
Main Hall (本堂, hon-dō ) [nb 49] | Taihō-ji | 3×4, single-storied, yosemune style, [ex 9] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Kamakura period | lateMatsuyama, Ehime 33°50′30.37″N132°44′31.88″E / 33.8417694°N 132.7421889°E | |
Yakushi Hall (薬師堂, yakushidō) [174] | Buraku-ji (豊楽寺) | 5×5, single-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hinoki cypress shingles | Heian period, 1151 | lateŌtoyo, Kōchi 33°47′31.35″N133°43′37.93″E / 33.7920417°N 133.7272028°E | |
Great Leader's Treasure Hall (大雄宝殿, daiyūhōden) [175] | Sōfuku-ji | 5×4, two-storied, irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Edo period, 1646 | earlyNagasaki 32°44′33.14″N129°53′0.56″E / 32.7425389°N 129.8834889°E | |
Daiippōmon (第一峰門) [175] | Sōfuku-ji | four-legged Chinese style gate, [ex 10] irimoya style, [ex 4] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] | Edo period, 1644 | earlyNagasaki 32°44′33.55″N129°52′59.88″E / 32.7426528°N 129.8833000°E | |
Ōdō (大堂) [nb 50] [176] | Fuki-ji | 3×4, single-storied, hōgyō style, [ex 1] hongawarabuki roof [ex 2] with smooth, lipless, semi-cylindrical cover tiles (行基葺, gyōgibuki) [113] | Heian period | lateBungotakada, Ōita 33°32′16.45″N131°31′42.79″E / 33.5379028°N 131.5285528°E |
Buddhist temples or monasteries are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan. The shogunates or leaders of Japan have made it a priority to update and rebuild Buddhist temples since the Momoyama period. The Japanese word for a Buddhist monastery is tera (寺), and the same kanji also has the pronunciation ji, so temple names frequently end in -dera or -ji. Another ending, -in (院), is normally used to refer to minor temples. Examples of temple names that have these suffixes are Kiyomizu-dera, Enryaku-ji and Kōtoku-in.
Kara-hafu (唐破風) is a type of curved gable found in Japanese architecture. It is used on Japanese castles, Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines. Roofing materials such as tile and bark may be used as coverings. The face beneath the gable may be flush with the wall below, or it may terminate on a lower roof.
Shinto architecture is the architecture of Japanese Shinto shrines.
This is the glossary of Japanese Buddhism, including major terms the casual reader might find useful in understanding articles on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk (*) are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries. Within definitions, words set in boldface are defined elsewhere in the glossary.
Main hall or Main Temple is the building within a Japanese Buddhist monastery compound (garan) which enshrines the main object of veneration. Because the various denominations deliberately use different terms, this single English term translates several Japanese words, among them butsuden, butsu-dō, kondō, konpon-chūdō, and hondō. Hondō is its exact Japanese equivalent, while the others are more specialized words used by particular sects or for edifices having a particular structure.
Hōryū-ji is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺), or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery.
In Japanese architecture mokoshi, literally "skirt storey" or "cuff storey", is a decorative pent roof surrounding a building below the true roof. Since it does not correspond to any internal division, the mokoshi gives the impression of there being more floors than there really are. It is usually a ken deep and is most commonly seen in Buddhist temples and pagodas. The mokoshi normally covers a hisashi, a walled aisle surrounding a building on one or more sides, but can be attached directly to the core of the structure, in which case there is no hisashi. The roofing material for the mokoshi can be the same or different as in the main roof.
Hokkesan Ichijō-ji (法華山一乗寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in Kasai, Hyōgo, Japan.
Ishi-no-ma-zukuri (石の間造), also called gongen-zukuri (権現造), yatsumune-zukuri (八棟造) and miyadera-zukuri (宮寺造), is a complex Shinto shrine structure in which the haiden, or worship hall, and the honden, or main sanctuary, are interconnected under the same roof in the shape of an H.
Japanese Buddhist architecture is the architecture of Buddhist temples in Japan, consisting of locally developed variants of architectural styles born in China. After Buddhism arrived from the continent via the Three Kingdoms of Korea in the 6th century, an effort was initially made to reproduce the original buildings as faithfully as possible, but gradually local versions of continental styles were developed both to meet Japanese tastes and to solve problems posed by local weather, which is more rainy and humid than in China. The first Buddhist sects were Nara's six Nanto Rokushū, followed during the Heian period by Kyoto's Shingon and Tendai. Later, during the Kamakura period, in Kamakura were born the Jōdo and the native Japanese sect Nichiren-shū. At roughly the same time, Zen Buddhism arrived from China, strongly influencing all other sects in many ways, including in architecture. The social composition of Buddhism's followers also changed radically with time. Beginning as an elite religion, it slowly spread from the nobility to warriors and merchants, and finally to the population at large. On the technical side, new woodworking tools like the framed pit saw and the plane allowed new architectural solutions.
Pagodas in Japan are called tō, sometimes buttō or tōba, and derive historically from the Chinese pagoda, itself an interpretation of the Indian stupa. Like the stupa, pagodas were originally used as reliquaries, but in many cases ended up losing this function. Pagodas are quintessentially Buddhist and an important component of Japanese Buddhist temple compounds but, because until the Kami and Buddhas Separation Act of 1868, a Shinto shrine was normally also a Buddhist temple and vice versa, they are not rare at shrines either. The famous Itsukushima Shrine, for example, has one. After the Meiji Restoration the word tō, once used exclusively in a religious context, came to mean also "tower" in the western sense, as for example in Eiffel Tower.
Mon is a generic Japanese term for gate often used, either alone or as a suffix, in referring to the many gates used by Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and traditional-style buildings and castles.
The shōrō, shurō or kanetsuki-dō is the bell tower of a Buddhist temple in Japan, housing the temple's bonshō (梵鐘). It can also be found at some Shinto shrines which used to function as temples, as for example Nikkō Tōshō-gū. Two main types exist, the older hakamagoshi (袴腰), which has walls, and the more recent fukihanachi (吹放ち) or fukinuki (吹貫・吹抜き), which does not.
The hidden roof is a type of roof widely used in Japan both at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. It is composed of a true roof above and a second roof beneath, permitting an outer roof of steep pitch to have eaves of shallow pitch, jutting widely from the walls but without overhanging them. The second roof is visible only from under the eaves and is therefore called a "hidden roof" while the first roof is externally visible and is called an "exposed roof" in English and "cosmetic roof" in Japanese. Invented in Japan during the 10th century, its earliest extant example is Hōryū-ji's Daikō-dō, rebuilt after a fire in 990.
The Tamamushi Shrine is a miniature shrine owned by the Hōryū-ji temple complex of Nara, Japan. Its date of construction is unknown, but estimated to be around the middle of the seventh century. Decorated with rare examples of Asuka-period paintings, it provides important clues to the architecture of the time and has been designated a National Treasure.
Zuiryū-ji (瑞龍寺) is a Buddhist temple in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The temple belongs to the Sōtō-school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Jōdo-ji (浄土寺) is a temple of Shingon Buddhism in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. As a site sacred to the boddhisattva Kannon, it is the 9th temple on the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. The temple, built at the end of the Kamakura period, is noted for two national treasures: the temple's main hall (hondō) and the treasure pagoda (tahōtō). In addition it holds a number of Important Cultural Property structures and artworks.