ebikouryou 海老虹梁
KEY WORD : architecture / general terms
 
Also written 蝦虹梁.
An usually-shaped rainbow tie beam thought to resemble the back of a lobster or shrimp or an s-shape turned on its side ~. It is used in the aisles *hisashi 廂, surrounding the core *moya 母屋, of a temple or shrine, building when the pillars of the core and the hisashi vary in height. Ebikouryou are used on each side of a step-canopy *kouhai 向拝 to join the pillars at the bottom of the steps to the head-penetrating tie beams *kashiranuki 頭貫 that are inserted into the tops of the pillars that form the outer framework of the building. Ebikouryou were one of the characteristic structural members of the Zen style *zenshuuyou 禅宗様, introduced in the early 13c. Although found mainly in Zen style temple buildings, it was also imitated in wayou style *wayou 和様 buildings. Originally the curvature of the ebikouryou was slight but gradually it became exaggerated. An early example is found at Kouzanji Butsuden 功山寺仏殿 (1320), Yamaguchi prefecture; and a late example at Unpouji Hondou 雲峰寺本堂 (late Muromachi period), Yamaguchi prefecture.
 

a) *tabasami 手挟 b) ebikouryou 海老虹梁 c) *kashiranuki 頭貫
Yuutenji Amidadou 祐天寺阿弥陀堂 (Tokyo)

 
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