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gochidou 五智堂 | ||||||
KEY WORD : architecture / buildings & structures | ||||||
Also
called shinmendou 真面堂. A very small open building 1 x 1 bay (2.49m
) with a large central pillar to which are attached four large framed inscriptions
written in Sanskrit. Built-in the Kamakura period, and located
in Nara, it belongs to Chougakuji 長岳寺 but is fairly distant from the present
temple precinct. Bracket complexes are 3-on-1 *mitsudo
tokyou 三斗斗きょう with bearing block-capped struts *kentozuka
間斗束 in the interstices *nakazonae
中備. The roof is pyramidal *hougyou-zukuri
宝形造 and the floor is a hard packed earthen type *doma
土間. Gochidou is considered architecturally important for the roof
structure which has a hidden roof *noyane
野屋根 that is unlike the earliest hidden roofs of the Heian period
at Houryuuji *Daikoudou 法隆寺大講堂. The exposed rafters *keshou daruki
化粧垂木 and the hidden rafters *nodaruki
野垂木 have been positioned with greater space between them allowing room for
the addition of a cantilever *hanegi
桔木 that adds support to the roof. This early use of a cantilever did not
extend to the eave support *kayaoi
茅負. Gochidou means the hall housing the five wisdoms and the
Buddhas *gochi nyorai
五智如来 of the Diamond Realm mandala *Kongoukai
mandara 金剛界曼荼羅 (Sk. Yajra-dhatu mandala). The central pillar symbolizes
the *Dainichi 大日(Sk:
Mahavairocana; great illumination), the supreme Buddha of the Shingon 真言
sect, and the embodiment of the realm of ultimate reality hokkai
法界. The inscriptions on each side of the pillar refer to the Buddhas of
universal directions: The Buddha of the east, *Ashuku
阿しゅく (Sk: Aksobhya; immovable) ; Houshou 宝生 (Sk. Ratna-sambhava), the
Buddha of the south who in his wisdom sees the ultimate equality of all
living creatures; *Amida
阿弥陀 (Sk: Amitabha), also called Muryouju 無量寿, the Buddha who discerns all
aspects of phenomena and who rules over the west, and the Western Paradise
or Pure Land of the Joudo 浄土 and Joudoshin 浄土真 sects ; and Fukuu jouju 不空成就
(Sk: Amoghasiddhi), the Buddha of the north who represents jousho sachi
成所作智 (Sk: krtyanusthana-jnana), the wisdom of accomplishing what is beneficial
for beings that perceive through the senses. The gochidou is a unique
architectural, three dimensional mandala. It is not known how it was originally
used. At present, it is occasionally used to chant the HANNYA SHINGYOU
般若心経 (Sk: Prajnaparamita sutra). |
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(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。 |
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