daibutsuyou　大仏様

KEY WORD :　architecture / general terms

Lit. Indian style. The style of architecture introduced to Japan when the priest Chougen 重源 (1121-1206), returned from China. He was responsible for building Toudaiji Daibutsuden 東大寺大仏殿, the great south gate *Nandaimon 南大門 in Nara, and Joudoji *Joudodou 浄土寺浄土堂 (1192) in Hyougo prefecture. The Chinese called India, Tenjiku 天竺, and the new style tenjikuyou 天竺様. The Japanese used the same term to distinguish the new style from the traditional *wayou 和様. However, confusion arose from the fact that while literally the term means Indian style, and this translation of the term entered the English language, the style had nothing to do with India. Several decades ago, Dr. Oota Hirotarou 大田博太郎, the great scholar of Japanese architectural history and a prolific writer, created the term, daibutsuyou, to replace tenjikuyou. It was logically deduced from the work of Chougen, particularly his rebuilding of the Daibutsuden, the huge Buddha Hall at Toudaiji.

REFERENCES:

*daibutsuyou kumimono 大仏様組物

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