hakkakutou　八角塔
KEY WORD :　architecture / buildings & structures
　
An octagonal pagoda of which there is only one in Japan. Although a plan to erect an octagonal pagoda existed at Saidaiji 西大寺 in Nara, it was never constructed. However, an octagonal pagoda of nine stories was built during the 11c under direction of the Fujiwara family at Houshouji 法勝寺, in Kyoto, but it burned down in 1058. The only extant octagonal pagoda is that at Anrakuji 安楽寺 (1339) in Nagano prefecture. An octagonal enclosure with an undulating pent roof *mokoshi 裳階, surrounds the first story of the three-storied building. Hence from the exterior it looks like a four-storied structure. There are vertically latticed windows *renjimado 連子窓, in each of the eight sides on the second and third stories. Only the closely packed Zen style *zenshuuyou 禅宗様 bracket complexes *tsumegumi 詰組, with double, well extended tail rafters *odaruki 尾垂木 with narrowed curve ends are visible above the pent roofs of the mokoshi. A narrow transom *ranma 欄間, filled with vertically set undulating ribs, unegumi 畝組, extends from pillar to pillar between the neck-penetrating tie beams *hinuki 樋貫, and the head-penetrating tie beams *kashiranuki 頭貫. Wall plates *daiwa 台輪, are placed on top of the head-penetrating tie beams not only on the mokoshi but also on the upper stories. All the wall plates and head-penetrating tie beams have nosings *kibana 木鼻, decorated with a type of molding called *kurigata 繰形. The pillars of the mokoshi are typical of the Zen style. They have been rounded-off on the top and bottom *chimaki 粽, and are set into cushion-like base stones. Double eaves *futanoki 二軒, with fan raftering *ougidaruki 扇垂木, (or rafters placed in a radiating fashion) are used for all four roofs which are covered with finely cut, layered shingles *kokerabuki 柿葺. The roof of the top story has a steep pitch compared to the roofs of other structures on the temple grounds. The spire *sourin 相輪 is large and made of iron. The interior has eight posts surrounding the sanctuary *naijin 内陣, which houses a Buddhist altar *butsudan 仏壇. There is a board floor and board ceiling which are octagonal in shape. The surrounding aisle, in this case called the outer worship area *gejin 外陣, has an earthen floor *doma 土間, and an open beam ceiling *keshou yaneura 化粧屋根裏.
　
Anrakuji Hakkaku sanjuu-no-tou 安楽寺八角三重塔(Nagano)
Anrakuji Hakkaku sanjuu-no-tou
安楽寺八角三重塔 (Nagano)

　
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