shichidou garan　七堂伽藍

KEY WORD :　architecture / buildings & structures

The seven principal buildings considered, necessary for a Buddhist temple from the 7-12c. They include: the main image hall *kondou 金堂, pagoda *tou 塔; lecture hall *koudou 講堂; belfry *shourou 鐘楼; sutra storage *kyouzou 経蔵; priests' quarters *soubou 僧坊; and refectory *jikidou 食堂. However, the expression shichidou might have referred to a finished building and shitsudou 悉堂 may have carried the nuance of a truly perfect hall. The seven main buildings erected at Zen 禅 sect temples from 12c on were: the main hall *butsuden 仏殿; the lecture hall *hattou 法堂; the principal gate *sanmon 三門; the kitchen building, often housing the administrative offices and living accommodations for some monks *kuri 庫裡; meditation hall *zendou 禅堂 also called *soudou 僧堂; bathhouse *ooyuya 大湯屋; and toilet facilities *tousu 東司.

REFERENCES:

*garan 伽藍, *garan haichi 伽藍配置

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NOTES:

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