The structures of temples

The structures of temples.
I introduce it while comparing it with the structure of the Shinto shrine.




Today, the temples and shrines have many designs. For an extreme
example, they are placed in the reinforced concrete building. However,
their fundamental designs are specified. This report describes the
structures of temples and shrines.

 I describe the structure of the shrines, first. The most
characteristic thing is the Torii. Most large shrines have two Torii
gate. One of them is set at entrance, and another is set near a main
shrine. Torii also have many designs. The representative examples are
Shinmei Torii and Myojin Torii. The grounds of a shrine are separated
from outwards by board fences called “Tamagaki” and the range of stone
pillars. There is a “Temizuya”, which is the building having water, in
front of a main shrine, worshippers cleanse their hands and mouths.
Now, some temples also have Temizuya, but originally, it is adjunct
facility of shrine. The most important thing is that the shrines
basically have abundant forests. It is because the shrines were made
from Japanese people’s fears and gratitude to nature. When you visit
old rural area, if you can see thick forest on the fringe, there
definitely is a shrine. Like this, most shrines are placed on the
fringe of old village. The building enshrining the Shintai is called
“Honden” which means a main shrine. The roofs of Honden also have many
designs. The representative examples are Kasuga zukuri and Nagare
zukuri. The special designs are Taisha zukuri (of Izumo Grand shrine)
and Shinmei zukuri (of Ise Grand shrine). Moreover, roofs are
classified into “Tsumairi” and “Hirairi” based on which surface the
entrance of Honden is put in long side or short side. Kasuga zukuri
and Taisha zukuri are Tsumairi. Nagare zukuri and Shinmei zukuri are
Hirairi.

  Next, I describe the structure of the temples. The main
architectures of the temples are gate, tower and Kondo (means main
hall). Gates of the temples are called “Sanmon.” All temples have
their gates. The most characteristic architectures of the temples are
the bell towers and towers. Bell towers hang bells inside of them.
Many temples, not all temples, have their towers. Originally, these
towers were assumed they were incarnations of Buddha, so that they
were main architectures of shrines. As the centuries roll by, towers'
roles had switched from main to landmarks of shrines, moreover to only
scenery shapers. Finally, towers are not essential architectures of
shrines any more. Buddha statues are set at the buildings called
“Kondo.” Today, it sometimes is called “Hondo.”

  At first, temples were created as the space where monks did ascetic
training, study and live. Therefore, old big temples have auditoriums,
dining halls, living spaces and baths. At most temples, Kondo's floors
are directly on the ground. At some temples, their foundations are one
step higher than the ground. This style is called “Kidan.” Roofs of
Hondo are made by tiles or thatches (or rarely by bronze). Most roofs
are same design called “Irimoya.” In principle, an entrance of Hondo
is Hirairi. At some temples, e.g. Zenkouji, their entrances are
Tsumairi. Architectures of the temples are made by clay wall and
stones. A fence which surrounds a temple is also made by tiling clay
wall. In general, temple's architectures are carved decoratively.
Hondo of the temples are far larger than Honden of the shrines. It is
because, when Buddha ceremony or preach are performed, it is needed to
invite many people. Therefore, Hondo's roofs become so high that we
can see them from a distance. If you can see a large roof at the
middle of old rural area, there definitely is a temple.

  I think a bright red building comes up to your mind when you imagine
a shrine. However, old shrines were very simple. Their buildings were
made by wood and roofs were made by cypress. Moreover, their posts
were just set up in holes dug at the ground (this style is called
“Hottatebashira.”) These are the feeling of Japanese people, and the
style of Japanese house. In 6th century, the style of temple
structures introduced from the Korean Peninsula. Buildings of this
style were brilliant so much. They had bright red posts, green windows
(called “Renjimado”) and bright blue roof tiles. Their posts were set
up on foundation stones. From this point, shrine architectures became
richly colored. In fact, Buddhism influenced many parts of shrines, so
that it became difficult to distinguish definitely. Speaking of the
difference of them, at shrines, if their architectures lost color they
were recolored, on the other hand, temple architectures were not
recolored. It is because Japanese God prefer sanctitude, or newness,
but the teaching of Buddhism is anicca, i.e. everything changes and
finally vanishes away. The period of syncretistic fusion of Shintoism
and Buddhism continued until the Separation Order was executed in the
Meiji Era. It continued so long that some of them still have both
characteristics. Therefore, even if the differences of the structures
of temples and shrines were defined clearly, many exist inevitably.