architecture essay

What is JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE?

Kazuo Nishi and Kazuo Hozumi translated, adapted, and with an introduction by

H. Mack Horton

KODANSHA INTERNATIONAL LTD. I q 8 S Tokyo, New York, and San Francisco

S H I N T O SHRINES

70. Shimmei style: Main Shrine of Ise Shrine

71. Taisha style: Main Shrine of Izumo Shrine

72. Sumiyoshi style: one of Main Shrines of Sumiyoshi Shrine O u J m

N a t u r e W o r s h i p Shintb, "the Way of the Gods," is Japan's indigenous religion. Animistic in nature, it worships not only anthropomorphic deities, but also the spirits of awe-inspiring elements of nature, especially certain mountains and trees. Early shrines used none of the monumental architecture of later Shint6 structures. Some, like Miwa Shrine (Nara Prefecture) a n d Kanasana Shrine (Saitama Prefec- ture) have a s their central object of worship the mountain behind them, a n d thus even today have no central building corresponding to the "main hall" (honden) used in other Shintb complexes. Instead, in the case of Miwa Shrine, a massive rock called ayori- shiro atop M t . M i w a is the focus of the sacred pre- cinct. At the base of the mountain is a small wor- ship hall (haidm) a n d a torii, the characteristic post a n d lintel gate that indicates a Shintb sanctuary (see fig. 83 for a n illustration of a torii). T h e S h r i n e P r o t o t y p e Actual shrine structures were probably built in response to the need to sum- mon a deity in order to offer prayers for a bountiful crop o r express thanks for a good harvest. These early structures, the prototypes of the shrines we know to- day, are found either in a central location in a village o r before mountains, boulders, and other places where the gods were thought to dwell. These original constructions were most likely temporary in nature.

T h e configuration of the early shrines is unknown, but posslbly resembled the portable shrines (mikoshi) still c a r r ~ e d on poles during festivals today. Indeed, the arrangement of the foundation stones a t Kasuga Shrine (see fig. 74b-d) and K a m o Shrine (see fig. 75) suggest that thelr principal structures were original- ly movable. T h e Oldest S h i n t 6 S h r i n e Styles T h e main types of Shintd shrines in use today took their final forms after the introduction of Buddhist architecture. T h o u g h Influenced to varying degrees by Buddhist temple forms, they nevertheless remain stylistical- ly separate a n d distinct. T h e three most venerable Shint6 shrine styles are the Shimmei (fig. 70), Taisha (fig. 7 I ) , a n d Sumiyoshi (fig. 72). Each is primarily identified with one famous complex-Ise Shrine (Ise City, Mie Prefecture) for the Shimmei, Izumo Shrine (Hikawa District, Shimane Prefecture) for the T a i - sha, and Sumiyoshi Shrine (Osaka City) for, the Sumiyoshi.

Ise Shrine actually consists of two shrine com- plexes, the Outer (GekO) and Inner (NaikG; fig. 73). T h e most important structure is the M a i n Shrine (Sh6den; figs. 70, 73) of the Naiku. Located in the center of the complex, it has a n entrance por- tico projecting from its south side. Shrines (and other types of buildings as well) with entrances in the side

_,' /

73. I n n e r S h r i n e of Ise S h r i n e

parallel to the roof ridge are called hirairi, "side- entered," as opposed to those entered at the gable end (tsumairz). Visual support for the roof ridge is pro- vided by two massive pillars, called munamochibashira, that stand independently beyond the gable sides of the structure and lean slightly inward. Above the plank walls is a miscanthus (kaya) roof topped by ten roof billets (katsuogl) and, at either end, forked finials (chi&) that are extensions of the bargeboards. The Roor is elevated on posts. Surrounding the Main Shrine and the two Treasure Houses (Hbden) to the north are concentric fences, the Mizugaki, Uchi (In- ner) Tamagaki, Tono (Outer) Tamagaki, and, sur- rounding the whole, the Itagaki.

T o the east of the shrine complex in figure 73 'ptands a second lot with a small structure at the .center. As a rule, the shrine buildings are rebuilt on $be contiguous lot every twenty years in order to en- Q

$7ire ritual purity for this, the shrine to the goddess sun, Amaterasu, primary in the Shinto pan- . The sixtieth rebuilding took place in 1973.

new shrine complex is completed, the older dismantled, and a small structure is built over

"heart pillar" (shin no mihmhira) over which ain Hall used to stand. The rebuilding process,

g with the cutting of special lumber far in ountains, takes years to accomplish and is enor-

mously costly. Ise, therefore, is the only shrine to- day that is regularly rebuilt, though the practice was common at many shrine sites in the past.

Izumo Shrine, built for the worship of Okuninushi and four lesser gods, has a similarly ancient heritage and was rebuilt twenty-five times. T h e Main Shrine (Honden; fig. 71) is a gable-entrance structure of impressive size, hence the name Taisha, "Great Shrine." Originally it may have been even larger- shrine legends say the prototype stood nearly one hundred meters tall and was reached by a grand stair- case. I n plan, the present Main Shrine resembles that of the Daijbe Shbden, built for the accession of each new emperor. The Main Shrine at Izumo is thought, therefore, to preserve a floor plan characteristic of ancient domestic architecture. I

T h e third -of these particularly ancient shrines, Sumiyoshi, consists of four nearly identical gable- entrance structures that originally overlooked the F a , as befit a place of worship of gods of sea voyages (fig. 72). Today, though, the site is surrounded by a modern urban neighborhood. Whereas the Ise and Izumo Shrines are left unpainted, the Sumiyoshi buildings are finished in brilliant red and white.