oubaku kenchiku　黄蘗建築

KEY WORD :　architecture / buildings & structures

Architecture introduced at temples of the Oubaku 黄檗 sect, in the Edo period (1615-1868). This sect is one of the three Zen 禅 sects. The architecture was very strongly influenced by Chinese architecture of the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Ching (1644-1912) dynasties. Characteristics of the architecture can best be seen at the head temple, Manpukuji 萬福寺, latter half of the 17c, in Kyoto. The ground plan reveals that the temple faces west. The entrance gate, Soumon 総門, opens to a path that makes a 90゜ angle turn to the right and leads to the main gate, Sanmon 三門. From there, the most important buildings are situated on a 180゜ axis leading to a building called Tennouden 天王殿 (1668). An unusual characteristic is a large terrace, getsudai 月台, in front of the main worship hall *Daiyuuhouden 大雄宝殿, corresponding to the *butsuden 仏殿 in other sects. The Daiyuuhouden and terrace face the Tennouden on the same axis. A lecture hall *hattou 法堂 is on the same axis a short distance behind the Daiyuuhouden. On either side are priests' dormitories. The abundance of roofed, colonnaded, open corridors, *kairou 回廊, leading from the lecture hall on the east and west sides, from one building to another, is typical of Chinese temple plans during the late Ming and early Ching. To the east of the central axis are a hall for offering food saidou 斎堂, a building called garandou 伽藍堂 and the belfry, *shourou 鐘楼. On the west side are the meditation hall *zendou 禅堂, the founder's hall *soshidou 祖師堂, and drum tower *korou 鼓楼. On the west side, corresponding roughly to an area between the main gate and the tennouden, is an enclosure that is accessible to a colonnaded corridor from an opening a little beyond the drum tower. Aside from a small pond and garden, there is another founder's hall, called *kaisandou 開山堂, containing the founder's image and a mortuary tablet. Behind the kaisandou up a long flight of steps is a small hall called *shariden 舎利殿, enshrining the founder, Ingen Ryuuki 隠元隆�g, who came to Japan in 1654, introduced the Oubaku sect and began the construction of Manpukuji in 1661. Many distinctly Chinese characteristics inherent in the buildings at Mampukuji are easily recognized. The main buildings are constructed on a large scale, and have a 1-bay deep open colonnade across the front. The ceiling in the open bay of the main worship hall is made with curved rafters, *wadaruki 輪垂木, lobster beams *ebikouryou 海老虹梁, and rainbow beams *kouryou 虹梁. Floors in all the main halls are paved with square-cut stones placed diagonally, a method of laying stones called *shihanjiki 四半敷. The type of bracket complexes vary from building to building. The main worship hall and enshrinement hall have closely packed, Zen style bracket complexes, *zenshuuyou tokyou 禅宗様斗きょう. Otherwise, bracket complexes are the simple 1-stepped type, *degumi 出組, or the 3-on-1 at right angle type, *demitsudo 出三斗. Several buildings have no bracket complexes, but some have bracket-shaped supports with moldings, mochiokuri kurigata 持送繰形. Roofing is traditional tile, *hongawarabuki 本瓦葺 on hip-and-gable roofs *irimoya-zukuri 入母屋造. The ridges of the main worship hall and the kaisandou have fish-tail ornaments *shachi 鯱, with the form of the 'precious jewel', *houju 宝珠, in the center. Again indicative of the strong Chinese influence, fret-patterned railings surround the kaisandou and the lecture hall. The main worship hall and the kaisandou have additional aisles, *mokoshi 裳階, beyond the peripheral areas *hisashi 廂. The addition of these aisles with their pent roofs sometimes gives the false impression that the building is two storeyed. The base stones, *soseki 礎石, under the pillars in oubaku kenchiku became elaborately carved, as for example with a motif of sacred animals. Another example of oubaku kenchiku is at Soufukuji 崇福寺, in Nagasaki prefecture, a building begun by Chinese merchants in 1629. By 1652 the temple arrangement in the Oubaku style was complete. The main gate is unique .It has a high, white plastered lower part with a large arched entrance, a tiled pent roof surrounding it, a balustrade an upper area covered by a steep hip-and-gable roof, *irimoya-zukuri 入母屋造, and the ridge is decorated with fish-tail ornaments on each end. There is a sacred jewel, *houju 宝珠 in the center.

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