gagyou　丸桁
KEY WORD :　architecture / general terms
　
Also read gangyou, gayou, nokigeta 軒桁 or *dashigeta 出桁. Lit. a round purlin. An eave purlin. A horizontal member placed under the eaves of a temple or shrine to support the rafters *taruki 垂木, that are inserted into the topmost bracket complexes *tokyou 斗きょう. The bracket complexes may be 1-step *degumi 出組, 2-step, futatesaki 二手先 (*futatesakigumi 二手先組), 3-step, mitesaki 三手先 (*mitesaki tokyou 三手先斗きょう) or up to 6-step, mutesaki 六手先 (*mutesaki tokyou 六手先斗きょう). If tail rafters *odaruki 尾垂木. are used with 2- or 3-stepped bracket complexes, bearing blocks *masu 斗, and bracket arms *hijiki 肘木, are placed toward the end of the tail rafter to provide support for the eave purlin. In the Asuka period, both round and square eave purlins were used. Gagyou were found in the Beetle wing Shrine *Tamamushi no zushi 玉虫厨子 at Houryuuji 法隆寺 in Nara, and traces of round purlins were discovered at Shitennouji 四天王寺 in Osaka. In the Nara period, round eave purlins were commonly used. Although round eave purlins continued to be used in the Heian period, oval purlins, purlins with rounded corners, and rectangular purlins began to replace them. After the end of the 12c, rectangular eave purlins were preferred. With the introduction of the Zen style *zenshuuyou 禅宗様, some eave purlins became higher than their width, and were rectangular in shape. The daibutsu style *daibutsuyou 大仏様, also had some special characteristics. The eave purlins are carried by purlin bearing bracket arms called *sanehijiki 実肘木. Ordinary bracket arms are inserted into the pillars instead of being placed on top. This method makes the brackets on each side of the pillar longer. Therefore, they are better able to sustain the weight of the eave purlins.
　
Izumo Taisha Hassokumon 出雲大社八足門 (Shimane)
Izumo Taisha Hassokumon 出雲大社八足門 (Shimane)

　
REFERENCES:
*yane kouzou 屋根構造
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