Kibitsu-zukuri
Encyclopedia
.
, or is a traditional Japanese Shinto architectural
style characterized by four dormer
gable
s, two per side. on the roof of a very large honden
(sanctuary). The gables are set at a right angle to the main roof ridge, and the honden is part of a single complex also including a haiden
(worship hall). Kibitsu Shrine
in Okayama
, Okayama Prefecture
, Japan
is the sole example of the style, although the Soshi-dō
of Hokekyō-ji
in Chiba prefecture
is believed to have been modeled on it.
or sanctuary, in the back, both under the same roof and joined by a short stairway (see floorplan). Both buildings show the clear influence of Buddhist architecture
, as they include features of all major styles, that is Daibutsuyō
, Zenshūyō and Wayō
.
influences, is extremely large, measuring 14.64 x 17.99 m, or 5 (front) x 8 (depth) x 7 (rear) bays
, with bays of a different length according to their position.
The honden's interior has a complex structure, being divided in six separate sections joined by six different stairways (see flooplan). At the very center of the honden are two sanctuaries, the which measures 3 x 2 bays, and the , which measures 3 x 1 bays. The two sanctuaries are surrounded on all sides by two corridors called the and the . Between the chūjin and the gejin lies a 5 x 1 bay space called ,A kōhai is a pent roof above the stairs of a shrine or temple also called . The closer one gets to the center, the higher the floor and the ceiling. The ceiling's structure itself changes, as most of the chūjin and the entire gejin have no ceiling, and the roof is therefore exposed, whereas other sections have ceilings of different types. The nainaijin for example lies below the gables. The whole area is decorated with vermillion and black lacquer
.
(pent roof), bringiing the building's external dimensions to 4 x 4 bays. Both entrances to the haiden are on the gabled side (tsumairi
style).
, or is a traditional Japanese Shinto architectural
Shinto architecture
Shinto architecture is the architecture of Japanese Shinto shrines.With a few exceptions, the general blueprint of a Shinto shrine is Buddhist in origin. Before Buddhism, shrines were just temporary structures erected to a particular purpose. Buddhism brought to Japan the idea of permanent shrines...
style characterized by four dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
s, two per side. on the roof of a very large honden
Honden
The , is the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine, intended purely for the use of the enshrined kami, usually symbolized by a mirror or sometimes by a statue. The building is normally in the rear of the shrine and closed to the general public. In front of its usually stands the haiden, or...
(sanctuary). The gables are set at a right angle to the main roof ridge, and the honden is part of a single complex also including a haiden
Haiden (Shinto)
In Shinto shrine architecture, the is the hall of worship or oratory. It is generally placed in front of the shrine's main sanctuary and often built on a larger scale than the latter. The haiden is often connected to the honden by a heiden, or hall of offerings...
(worship hall). Kibitsu Shrine
Kibitsu Jinja
is a Shinto shrine in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The Honden-Haiden is a National Treasure and the sole exemplar of the kibitsu-zukuri style of architecture, although the Soshidō of Hokekyō-ji is now believed to have been modeled thereon.-Buildings:...
in Okayama
Okayama, Okayama
is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
, Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
is the sole example of the style, although the Soshi-dō
Dō (architecture)
is a Japanese word for building. It is very often used in Japanese Buddhism as a suffix in the name of some of the many buildings that can be part of a Japanese temple compound. The prefix can be the name of a deity associated with it is a Japanese word for building. It is very often used in...
of Hokekyō-ji
Hokekyō-ji (Ichikawa)
is a Nichiren school temple founded during the Kamakura period in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.-Buildings:* Shisoku-mon * Hokkedō * Five-storey pagoda * Soshidō...
in Chiba prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
is believed to have been modeled on it.
Structure
The T-shaped shrine is composed of two buildings: the haiden or prayer hall, in the front, and the hondenHonden
The , is the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine, intended purely for the use of the enshrined kami, usually symbolized by a mirror or sometimes by a statue. The building is normally in the rear of the shrine and closed to the general public. In front of its usually stands the haiden, or...
or sanctuary, in the back, both under the same roof and joined by a short stairway (see floorplan). Both buildings show the clear influence of Buddhist architecture
Japanese Buddhist architecture
Japanese Buddhist architecture is the architecture of Buddhist temples in Japan, consisting of locally developed variants of architectural styles born in China...
, as they include features of all major styles, that is Daibutsuyō
Daibutsuyō
is a Japanese religious architectural style which emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. Together with Wayō and Zenshūyō, it is one of the three most significant styles developed by Japanese Buddhism on the basis of Chinese models....
, Zenshūyō and Wayō
Wayō
is the name given to a style developed in art and architecture in Japan during the Heian period, mainly by the esoteric sects Tendai and Shingon. Together with Zenshūyō and Daibutsuyō, it is one of the three most significant styles developed by Japanese Buddhism on the basis of Chinese models.The...
.
Honden
The honden, which shows strong daibutsuyōDaibutsuyō
is a Japanese religious architectural style which emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. Together with Wayō and Zenshūyō, it is one of the three most significant styles developed by Japanese Buddhism on the basis of Chinese models....
influences, is extremely large, measuring 14.64 x 17.99 m, or 5 (front) x 8 (depth) x 7 (rear) bays
Ken (architecture)
A is a measurement in Japanese architecture. It has two principal uses:* As a proportion for intervals between the pillars of traditional-style buildings. The word is translated in this case in English as "bay". Traditional buildings usually measure an odd number of bays, for example 3×3 or 5×5...
, with bays of a different length according to their position.
The honden's interior has a complex structure, being divided in six separate sections joined by six different stairways (see flooplan). At the very center of the honden are two sanctuaries, the which measures 3 x 2 bays, and the , which measures 3 x 1 bays. The two sanctuaries are surrounded on all sides by two corridors called the and the . Between the chūjin and the gejin lies a 5 x 1 bay space called ,A kōhai is a pent roof above the stairs of a shrine or temple also called . The closer one gets to the center, the higher the floor and the ceiling. The ceiling's structure itself changes, as most of the chūjin and the entire gejin have no ceiling, and the roof is therefore exposed, whereas other sections have ceilings of different types. The nainaijin for example lies below the gables. The whole area is decorated with vermillion and black lacquer
Lacquer
In a general sense, lacquer is a somewhat imprecise term for a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required...
.
Haiden
The honden is connected in the front to the haiden by a 1 x 1 bay passage and a short stairway. The haiden's core is just 3 x 1 bays, but it is surrounded on three sides by a 1-bay wide mokoshiMokoshi
In Japanese architecture a , literally "skirt story" or "cuff story", is a decorative pent roof surrounding a building below the true roof. Since it does not correspond to any internal division, the mokoshi gives the impression of there being more floors than there really are...
(pent roof), bringiing the building's external dimensions to 4 x 4 bays. Both entrances to the haiden are on the gabled side (tsumairi
Tsumairi
is a Japanese traditional architectural structure where the building has its main entrance on one or both of the . The shinmei-zukuri, nagare-zukuri, hachiman-zukuri, and hie-zukuri Shinto architectural styles all belong to this type....
style).