Two examples of ''kairō''
, , is the Japanese version of a
cloister
A cloister (from Latin ''claustrum'', "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against ...
, a covered corridor originally built around the most sacred area of a
Buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism repres ...
, a zone which contained the ''
kondō'' and the ''
tō
Multi-storied pagodas in wood and stone, and a ''gorintō''
Pagodas in Japan are called , sometimes or and historically derive from the Chinese pagoda, itself an interpretation of the Indian ''stupa''. Like the ''stupa'', pagodas were origi ...
''. Nowadays it can be found also at
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The ''honden''Also called (本殿, meanin ...
s and at ''
shinden-zukuri
''Shinden-zukuri'' (寝殿造) refers to an architectural style created in the Heian period (794－1185) in Japan and used mainly for palaces and residences of nobles.
In 894, Japan abolished the ''kentōshi'' (Japanese missions to Tang China ...
'' aristocratic residences.
The ''kairō'' and the ''
rōmon
The is one of two types of two-storied gate used in Japan (the other one being the '' nijūmon'', see photo in the gallery below). Even though it was originally developed by Buddhist architecture, it is now used at both Buddhist temples and S ...
'' were among the most important among the ''
garan'' elements which appeared during the Heian period.
The first surrounded the holiest part of the ''
garan'', while the second was its main exit. Neither was originally characteristic of Shinto shrines, but in time they often came to replace the traditional shrine surrounding fence called ''
tamagaki''.
The earliest example of a ''kairō''/''rōmon'' complex can be found at
Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū, a shrine now but a former .
[On the subject of shrine-temple complexes, see the article '' Shinbutsu shūgō''.] The ''rōmon'' is believed to have been built in 886, and the ''kairō'' roughly at the same time.
Itsukushima Jinja
is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima), best known for its "floating" ''torii'' gate. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005)"''Itsukushima-jinja''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 407. It is in the city of Hats ...
is an example of the mature form of the complex.
Two types of ''kairō'' exist, one 1-
bay
A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a na ...
wide and another 2-bay wide, the bay being the space between two pillars. The first is by far the most common.
Tanrō
The 1-bay wide type is supported by just two rows of pillars and is therefore called . Typical windows called (see gallery) let air and light in.
Fukurō
The 2-bay wide type is supported by three rows of pillars, is called and is divided in two identical corridors by a wall (see model in the gallery). Although it is known that several existed at major Buddhist temples, for example at
Tōdai-ji
is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE. The temple has undergo ...
, none is extant.
Some ''fukurō'' survive however at Shinto shrines.
Gallery
File:Figure of Single Cloister.jpg, Drawing of a ''tanrō''
File:Figure of Double Cloister.jpg, Drawing of a ''fukurō''
File:Model of Double Cloister.jpg, Model of a ''fukurō''
File:Plan pf Yakushiji Temple.jpg, Plan of Yakushi-ji
is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan, and was once one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto, located in Nara. The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism. Yakushi-ji is one of th ...
with the ''kairō'' surrounding the ''garan''
File:Iwashimizu Hachimangu4.jpg, Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū's ''fukurō'' and ''rōmon''
File:Isaniwa shrine kairou.jpg, External view of a ''kairō's'' wall with ''renjimado''
File:Two Niō who stand in the left (Ungyō) and right (Agyō) of the sanmon gate at Zentsū-ji in Zentsū-ji City Kagawa pref.jpg, View from the entrance of Zentsū-ji's ''kairō''
File:Hasedera Sakurai Nara pref06s4s4272.jpg, Internal view of Hase-dera's ''kairō''
See also
*
Glossary of Shinto
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kairo
Japanese Buddhist architecture
Japanese architectural features
Shinto architecture
Colonnades