Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wayō
arrived in the 7th century and gradually acquired local character, becoming the
basis of much Japanese wooden architecture. It was named so as to distinguish it from
karayō
(also known as Zen style), which arrived in the 12th century. A mixture of
wayō
and
karayō
(known as
setchuyō
) eventually came to dominate, and
tenjikuyō
disappeared
altogether.
With their origins in Chinese architecture and with an emphasis on other-worldly per-
fection, early temples were monumental and symmetrical in layout. A good example of
the Chinese influence can be seen in the famous Phoenix Hall at Byōdō-in in Uji (
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), a Tang-style pavilion.
The Japanese affinity for asymmetry eventually affected temple design, leading to the
more organic - although equally controlled - planning of later temple complexes. An ex-
complex containing a myriad of subtemples and gardens).
Despite the frequent earthquakes in Japan, the pagodas at Buddhist temples almost never
fall down. They are designed so that each floor moves in opposition to the others in a move-
ment known as 'the snake dance'.
Architectural Components
Temples generally have four gates, oriented to the north, south, east and west. The
nandai-
mon
(southern gate) is usually the largest one. There is also a central gate
, chū-mon,
which is sometimes incorporated into the cloister. The
niō-mon
(guardian gate) houses
frightful-looking statues of gods such as Raijin (the god of thunder) and Fū-jin (the god of
wind).
The
Gojū-no-tō,
or five-storey pagoda, is a major component of temple design. These
are elegant wooden towers, symbolising
Shaka,
the Historical Buddha. Their design is a
variation of the Indian stupa, a structure originally intended to hold the remains of
Shaka
(sometimes with an actual tooth or chip of bone, but more often represented by crystal or
amber). The spire on top usually has nine tiers, representing the nine spheres of heaven.
The word for the Shintō shrine gate
(torii)
is written with the kanji for 'bird' and 'be', forming
a compound that means something like 'the place where the bird is'. Scholars have noted
that several shamanistic traditions in mainland Asia use bird perches in a ceremonial man-
ner.
