zenshuuyou kouran  禅宗様高欄
KEY WORD : architecture / general terms
 
Also called karayou kouran 唐様高欄. A railing or balustrade *kouran 高欄 with features characteristic of the Zen 禅 style. The most easily identified is the newel post *giboshi 擬宝珠, which has an inverted, stylized lotus flower *gyakuren 逆蓮, with a tapered stem that extends upward or has petals that are slightly flared with a bulbous form on top. Newer posts also have upright, half-opened, simplified lotus patterns or one atop the other holding an undecorated bulbous form. The top railings are supported by carved lotus leaf struts *kayouzuka 荷葉束. When used on altars *shumidan 須弥壇, the top rail *hokogi 架木, often slopes downward in an elongated curve toward the center front. When compared to Japanese style *wayou 和様 railings, the Zen style railings are conspicuous for the use of ornamentation and curvilinear forms.
Examples: Engakuji *Shariden 円覚寺舎利殿 in Kanagawa prefecture, Rinnouji Taiyuuin *Reibyou 輪王寺大猷院霊廟 (1653) in Tochigi prefecture, Buttsuuji Ganki-in Jizoudou 仏通寺含暉院地蔵堂 (1407) in Hiroshima prefecture.
 

Rinnouji Taiyuuin Reibyou 輪王寺大猷院霊廟 (Tochigi)

a) *hokogi 架木  b) *kayouzuka 荷葉束  c) *hirageta 平桁
d) *jifuku 地覆  e) komitatarazuka 込たたら束  f) *gyakuren 逆蓮
g) *nigirihasu 握蓮  h) kouran oyabashira 高欄親柱

 
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