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Hokuendou 北円堂 | ||||||
KEY WORD : architecture / buildings & structures | ||||||
The
largest extant octagonal Buddhist temple hall, dated 1210. It is located at Koufukuji
興福寺, in Nara, and is placed on a stone podium with access on four sides by a flight
of eight stone steps about the width of one bay *ken
間, or 4.85m. Heavy, double plank doors studded with metal bosses face the steps.
Above the doors are long narrow openings filled with slender, delicately wrought
laths. Double, vertically-latticed windows *renjimado
連子窓, fill the remaining four bays. The laths are remarkably slender, unlike the
heavy laths used in the Nara period. The bracket complexes at each corner
are three-stepped *mitesaki
tokyou 三手先斗きょう, between the corners are three-on-one, non-projecting bracket
complexes *hiramitsuto 平三斗,
with bearing block capped struts *kentozuka
間斗束, on each side. The arrangement of the rafters is unique because as seen from
beneath the eaves, the rafters have three layers *minoki
三軒. The base rafters *jidaruki
地垂木, extend outward as usual, but then, not one but two sets of flying rafters
*hien daruki 飛檐垂木, advance
forward creating deep eaves. The eight-sectioned roof hatchuu yane 八注屋根 (see *hatchuu-zukuri 八注造),
is covered with tile roofing *hongawarabuki
本瓦葺, and has an elaborate tear-drop shaped form *houju
宝珠, at the peak. The roof of the Hokuendou, as well as those of the other
eight sided halls known as *Saiendou
西円堂 and *Yumedono 夢殿, both
at Houryuuji 法隆寺, retained their shapes during remodeling in the 13c. There is
no sag in these roofs due to the use of perfectly straight hidden rafters *nodaruki
野垂木. The ogre faced tiles *onigawara
鬼瓦, are the original tiles. In spite of the massive roof, the body of the building
does not appear weak because of the double row of stacked bracket complexes in
the interstices *nakazonae
中備, which work together with the corner brackets to create an excellent balance.
The interior of the Hokuendou has an octagonal sanctuary *naijin
内陣, marked by eight heavy pillars that support large, horizontal plates above
which extend small plastered walls *kokabe
小壁, constructed within each of the eight bays. These plastered areas are divided
by horizontal purlins *keta
桁. Bracket complexes extend out at each corner and bearing-block capped struts
are centered within the lower space between the corners. Above each of them, one
additional bearing block is placed on the upper surface of the purlins. Colorful
paintings of flourishing, scroll-like motifs of abstracted natural forms oigata
笈形, decorate each side of the bearing- block capped struts. An elaborate canopy
*tengai 天蓋, is suspended
above the octagonal altar below a smooth board ceiling *kagamitenjou
鏡天井 |
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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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