Tokyō
Encyclopedia
The Dougong in Chinese (also called or ) is a system of and supporting the eaves
of a Japanese building, usually part of a Buddhist temple
or Shinto shrine. The use of tokyō is made necessary by the extent to which the eaves protrude, a functionally essential element of Japanese Buddhist architecture
. The system has however always had also an important decorative function. Like most architectural elements in Japan, the system is Chinese in origin (on the subject, see the article Dougong
).
In its simplest configuration, the bracket system has a single projecting bracket and a single block, and is called hitotesaki. If the first bracket and block group support a second similar one, the whole system is called futatesaki, if three brackets are present it is called mitesaki, and so on until a maximum of six brackets as in the photo to the right.
Each supporting block in most cases supports, besides the next bracket, a U-shaped supporting bracket set at 180° to the first (see photos in the gallery below).
The Protection of Cultural Properties
logo (see gallery below) represents a tokyō, considered an element of Japanese architecture which stands for the continuity in time of cultural property protection.
extend far beyond the walls, covering verandas. Besides being determinant to the general look of the edifice, the oversize eaves give its interior a characteristic dimness, a factor which contributes to the temple's atmosphere. Finally, the eaves have a practical function in a country where rain is a common event, because they protect the building carrying the rain as far as possible from its walls. The roof's weight must however be supported by complex bracket systems called tokyō. The further the eaves extend, the greater and more complex must the tokyō be. An added benefit of the tokyō system is its inherent elasticity, which lessens the impact of an earthquake acting as a shock absorber.
This bracketing system, being essential both structurally and esthetically, since it was imported from China has been altered and refined many times. It is made of a combination of weight bearing blocks (masu) and bracket arms (hijiki). The bearing block, when set directly on a post, is called daito, or "large block". When it connects two brackets, it is instead called . Bearing blocks installed on top of corner posts are of necessity more complex and are called because of how difficult they are to make. In its simplest configuration, each tokyō includes a single outwardly-projecting bracket with a single supporting block, in which case the complex is called . The projecting bracket is just the tip of one of the roof's beams. If the first bracket and block group supports a second similar one, the whole complex is called . The tokyō may also have three or more such steps, up to six (. The number of steps used to indicate the rank of a butsudō
, the higher ranks having more, but the custom was abandoned after the Heian period
. In most cases, besides the projecting bracket above it, a bearing block supports another bracket set at 180° (see schematic photo below), extending laterally the support provided by the system.
Wayō
-, Zenshūyō- and Daibutsuyō
-style tokyō all differ in details, the first being the simplest of the three. The Daibutsuyō style has for example a dish-shaped decoration called under each block, while the Zen'yō rounds up in an arc the bracket's lower ends. Another Zenshūyō feature is the or , a nose-like decoration carved after the last protruding bracket. (See photo in the gallery.) Some of these features can also be found in temples of non-Zen sects.
).
set between the second and the third step (see illustration above and photo in the gallery).
.
's Nandaimon. In that gate's case, it consists of just six projecting brackets with no brackets at right angles (see photo above).
's Kondō
, five-storied pagoda
and Chūmon
. These bracket systems are believed to be a Japanese invention of the Asuka period
, as there is no evidence they came from the Continent.
style, these brackets are clearly visible in the photo at the top of the article.
Buddhism at the end of the 12th century.
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
of a Japanese building, usually part of a Buddhist temple
Buddhist temples in Japan
Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan.The term "Shinto shrine" is used in opposition to "Buddhist temple" to mirror in English the distinction made in Japanese between Shinto and Buddhist religious structures. In...
or Shinto shrine. The use of tokyō is made necessary by the extent to which the eaves protrude, a functionally essential element of Japanese 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...
. The system has however always had also an important decorative function. Like most architectural elements in Japan, the system is Chinese in origin (on the subject, see the article Dougong
Dougong
Dougong is a unique structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture....
).
In its simplest configuration, the bracket system has a single projecting bracket and a single block, and is called hitotesaki. If the first bracket and block group support a second similar one, the whole system is called futatesaki, if three brackets are present it is called mitesaki, and so on until a maximum of six brackets as in the photo to the right.
Each supporting block in most cases supports, besides the next bracket, a U-shaped supporting bracket set at 180° to the first (see photos in the gallery below).
The Protection of Cultural Properties
Cultural Properties of Japan
As defined by the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs, the are tangible properties and intangible properties created or developed in JapanDespite the official definition, some Cultural Properties of Japan were created in China, Korea or other...
logo (see gallery below) represents a tokyō, considered an element of Japanese architecture which stands for the continuity in time of cultural property protection.
Function and structure
The roof is the most visually impressive part of a Buddhist temple, often constituting half the size of the whole edifice. The slightly curved eavesEaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
extend far beyond the walls, covering verandas. Besides being determinant to the general look of the edifice, the oversize eaves give its interior a characteristic dimness, a factor which contributes to the temple's atmosphere. Finally, the eaves have a practical function in a country where rain is a common event, because they protect the building carrying the rain as far as possible from its walls. The roof's weight must however be supported by complex bracket systems called tokyō. The further the eaves extend, the greater and more complex must the tokyō be. An added benefit of the tokyō system is its inherent elasticity, which lessens the impact of an earthquake acting as a shock absorber.
This bracketing system, being essential both structurally and esthetically, since it was imported from China has been altered and refined many times. It is made of a combination of weight bearing blocks (masu) and bracket arms (hijiki). The bearing block, when set directly on a post, is called daito, or "large block". When it connects two brackets, it is instead called . Bearing blocks installed on top of corner posts are of necessity more complex and are called because of how difficult they are to make. In its simplest configuration, each tokyō includes a single outwardly-projecting bracket with a single supporting block, in which case the complex is called . The projecting bracket is just the tip of one of the roof's beams. If the first bracket and block group supports a second similar one, the whole complex is called . The tokyō may also have three or more such steps, up to six (. The number of steps used to indicate the rank of a butsudō
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...
, the higher ranks having more, but the custom was abandoned after the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. In most cases, besides the projecting bracket above it, a bearing block supports another bracket set at 180° (see schematic photo below), extending laterally the support provided by the system.
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...
-, Zenshūyō- and 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....
-style tokyō all differ in details, the first being the simplest of the three. The Daibutsuyō style has for example a dish-shaped decoration called under each block, while the Zen'yō rounds up in an arc the bracket's lower ends. Another Zenshūyō feature is the or , a nose-like decoration carved after the last protruding bracket. (See photo in the gallery.) Some of these features can also be found in temples of non-Zen sects.
Sumisonae
The or are the brackets at the corner of a roof, having a particularly complex structure. The regular brackets between two sumisonae are called or .Futatesaki
Very common two-step bracketing system used in a variety of structures. See in the gallery for example the photo of a belltower (shōrōShōrō
The or is the bell tower of a Buddhist temple in Japan. It can also be found at some Shinto shrines, as for example Nikkō Tōshō-gū. Two main types exist, the older , which has walls, and the more recent or , which does not.-History:...
).
Mitesaki
The three-step complex (mitesaki) is the most common in Wayō-style structures. Its third step is usually supported by a so-called , a cantileverCantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
set between the second and the third step (see illustration above and photo in the gallery).
Yotesaki
The is used mainly in the top section of a tahōtōTahōtō
A is a form of Japanese pagoda found primarily at Esoteric Shingon and Tendai school Buddhist temples. It is unique among pagodas because it has an even number of stories...
.
Mutesaki
The mutesaki tokyō (see photo above) is a six-step bracketing system whose most famous example can be seen at Tōdai-jiTodai-ji
, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
's Nandaimon. In that gate's case, it consists of just six projecting brackets with no brackets at right angles (see photo above).
Kumo tokyō
The is a bracket system where the projecting bracket is shaped in a way thought to resemble a cloud. It is rare in extant temples, and its most important examples are found in Hōryū-jiHōryū-ji
is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as seminary and monastery both....
's Kondō
Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism)
Main hall is the term used in English for the building within a Japanese Buddhist temple compound which enshrines the main object of veneration. Because the various denominations deliberately use different terms, this single English term translates several Japanese words, among them Butsuden,...
, five-storied pagoda
Tō
The , sometimes also called or is the Japanese version of the Chinese pagoda, itself an interpretation of the Indian stupa. Pagodas are quintessentially Buddhist and an important component of Japanese Buddhist temple compounds but, because until the Kami and Buddhas Separation Act of 1868 a...
and Chūmon
Mon (architecture)
is a generic Japanese term for gate often used, either alone or as a suffix, in referring to the many gates used by Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and traditional-style buildings and castles.-Significance:...
. These bracket systems are believed to be a Japanese invention of the Asuka period
Asuka period
The , was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period...
, as there is no evidence they came from the Continent.
Sashihijiki
The is a bracket arm inserted directly into a pillar instead of resting onto a supporting block on top of a pillar, as was normal in the wayō style. Typical of the 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....
style, these brackets are clearly visible in the photo at the top of the article.
Tsumegumi
are intercolumnar supporting brackets, usually futatesaki or mitesaki, installed one immediately after the other. The result is an extremely compact row of brackets. Tsumegumi are typical of the Zenshūyō style, which arrived to Japan with ZenZen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhism at the end of the 12th century.