fudoudou　不動堂

KEY WORD :　architecture / buildings & structures

A hall in a Buddhist temple dedicated to the deity *Fudou Myouou 不動明王 (Sk. Acalanatha or abbreviated to Acala), one of the five divinities *godai myouou 五大明王 who protects Buddhism. He is also courier for　*Dainichi 大日, the Buddha central to the Shingon 真言 sect. Fudou can be identified by his ferocious demeanor; he holds a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left. During the Heian period, when the Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou 密教, of Buddhism were introduced to Japan and became popular with the elite, they built temple halls with strong overtones of the aristocratic style of private dwelling. Many of the high ranking priests who came from the imperial family or other noble families expected living quarters similar to those to which they were accustomed. Many were built at branch temples close to large mikkyou temples. This custom continued throughout the medieval period. Example: Kongoubuji Fudodou 金剛峯寺不動堂 (end 12c - early 13c.) Wakayama prefecture. Overall it is 5 x 4 bays but the temple hall, itself, is 3 x 4 bays. Facing the hall from the front on the left side is a 1-bay wide aisle-like area tsurihisashi 釣廂 that is enclosed along the two central bays. On the right side is a 1-bay wide tsurihisashi that is enclosed along the center 2-bays and an additional bay that extends to the rear of the structure. These tsurihisashi for the space for narrow rooms on each side. The roof is the hip-and-gable type *irimoya-zukuri 入母屋造, with an extended eave *sugaruhafu 縋破風, over the veranda *engawa 縁側. The bracket complexes are the right angled 3-on-1 type *demitsudo 出三斗, with frog-leg-struts *kaerumata 蟇股, in the interstices between the bracket complexes. There are also double eaves *futanoki 二軒, and closely spaced rafters *shigedaruki 繁垂木. The roof is covered with cypress bark *hiwadabuki 桧皮葺. The gable pediments have diagonal braces *sasu 扠首. A step canopy *kouhai 向拝, is built over the steps at the center front. A residential feeling is created by both panelled doors, and latticed doors with plank backing that open into two horizontal sections *shitomido 蔀戸. The building also has chamfered posts except for the sanctuary pillars and the flowing eaves extending over the simple, open veranda. Residential-like Buddhist halls are not all dedicated to the fudoudou. Other examples are the *Daishidou 大師堂 at Kyouougokokuji 教王護国寺 (1380) and Jingoji 神護寺 *Nouryoubou 納涼房 (Momoyama period), both in Kyoto.

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