roban　露盤
KEY WORD :　architecture / general terms
　
Commonly used abbreviation of shouroban 承露盤; also called masugata 枡形. Originally, an entire spire *sourin 相輪, or tear-drop crowning ornament *houju 宝珠. Roban now refers to the box-like sturucture placed over a peaked roof. Square *hougyou yane 宝形屋根, hexagonal, rokuchuu yane 六注屋根 or rokkaku yane 六角屋根, or octagonal roofs, hatchuu yane 八注屋根 or hakkaku yane 八角屋根, have a peaks at the top where the corner ridges *sumikudarimune 隅降棟, merge. To prevent leaking, a cover was necessary. The number of sides of a roban depends on the number of sections that form the roof. Most were square, but hexagonal or octagonal ones were necessary when the roof has six or eight sections.
The roban also provided the base for a complete spire, which was composed usually of seven distinct parts placed on top of the base section. It also furnished a base for various teardrop or onion-shaped forms called houju, lit. precious jewel. Roban made in the early centuries were quite low compared to the height of the later inverted bowl-shaped forms *fukubachi 伏鉢, placed on the roban. The proportions of the roban changed in later periods. It was taller and was often decorated with a multifoil pattern *kouzama 格狭間. Roban are made of bronze, stone or tiles.
　
Koufukuji Nan'endou 興福寺南円堂 (Nara)
Koufukuji Nan'endou 興福寺南円堂 (Nara)

　
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