Irimoya

The East Asian hip-and-gable roof (''Xiēshān'' (歇山) in Chinese, ''Paljakjibung'' (팔작지붕) in Korean and ''Irimoya'' (入母屋) in Japanese) also known as 'resting hill roof', consists of a hip roof that slopes down on all four sides and integrates a gable on two opposing sides. It is usually constructed with two large sloping roof sections in the front and back respectively, while each of the two sides is usually constructed with a smaller roof section.

The style is Chinese in origin, and has spread across much of East and Continental Asia. The original Chinese style and similar styles are not only found in the traditional architectures of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam but also other countries such as Mongolia, Buryatia, Kalmykia, Tuva, Bhutan, and Tibet, and even South Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. A similar, generally taller and originally thatched hip and gable style is also traditionally used in Southeast Asia such as in the Philippines and in Indonesia.

Etymology

It is known as ( zh, t=歇山, labels=no) in Chinese, () in Korean. and in Japanese,

East Asia

''Xieshan'' in China

In China, the hip-and-gable roof style, also known as the ''xieshan roof'' style, is thought to be invented by Huang Jieming, a Chinese inventor from the Eastern Han dynasty, as an adaptation of the hip roof. It was mainly applied in the construction of palaces, temples, gardens and other buildings with official functions. In contemporary times, it is still widely used in Buddhist and Taoist temples and shrines in China.

The style is generally characterized by the presence of nine ridges and a hipped roof encircled with a peristyle. The nine ridges typically consists of one horizontal ridge on the top, known as the main ridge, which is connected to four vertical ridges and four diagonal ridge. 

There are typically two types of eaves associated with the x''ieshan'' style: single eaves (单檐) and double eaves (重檐). Single eaves refer to the edges of a basic x''ieshan rooftop'', while double eaves consist of an additional layer of eaves below the basic x''ieshan rooftop''. Examples of the double eave type can be found on the x''ieshan roofs'' of structures such as Cining Palace, the Gate of Supreme Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony in the Forbidden City, as well as the Grand Hotel in Taipei. Examples of the single eave type can be found on buildings such as Zhihua Temple, the shanmen of Miaoying Temple, and the North Gate of the Walls of Taipei.

''Paljakjibung'' in Korea

''Paljakjibung'' ''(팔작지붕)'' is the most commonly used roof type in authoritative architecture during the Joseon Dynasty. Considering that the hierarchy is the highest, regardless of size, most of the central buildings are Paljak. However, in temple architecture in the late Joseon Dynasty, where wood was scarce due to the high demand for wood used for roof furniture, the lower furniture was left intact and only the roof was often replaced by the eight-piece.

''Irimoya'' in Japan

''Irimoya'' arrived from China to Japan in the 6th century. The style was originally used in the main and lecture halls of a Buddhist temple compound. It started to be used for the ''honden'' at shrines and also in palaces, castles, and folk dwellings later during the Japanese Middle Ages. Its gable is usually right above the '' moya'', or core, while the hip covers the '' hisashi'', a veranda-like aisle surrounding the core on one or more sides.

It is still in wide use in the construction of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan. It is also often called . Another variant of Japanese hip-and-gable roof is the Shikorobuki.

South Asia

''Kandyan roof'' of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, a style known as the ''kandyan roof'' bears many similarities to the original East Asian hip-and-gable roof. The ''kandyan roof'' is primarily used for religious, and historically, royal buildings. Its roots however lie in the traditions of the "Sri Lankan village".

Gallery

File:Fuzhou Hualin Si 20120304-21.jpg, ''Xieshan roof'' with single eaves on Hualin Temple in Fujian, China
File:Wutai 2009 408.jpg, ''Xieshan roof'' with multiple eaves on the Mahavira Hall of Xiantong Temple on Mount Wutai, Wutai County, Shanxi, China
File:Suzhou Xuanmiao Guan 2015.04.23 17-53-51.jpg, ''Xieshan roof'' with single eaves on the Hall of the Three Pure Ones in Xuanmiao Temple in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
File:Guanyin Pavilion of Dule Temple.JPG, ''Xieshan roof'' with double eaves on the Guanyin Pavilion in Dule Temple in Tianjin, China
File:Nanchan Temple 1.JPG, The Great Buddha Hall in Nanchan Temple on Mount Wutai, Wutai County, Shanxi, China, dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907) and exhibiting a ''Xieshan'' roof; this is China's oldest existing timber building.
File:Forbidden City Gate of Heaven 2.jpg, A hip-and-gable is seen in the Tiananmen, Beijing.
File:National Concert Hall (Taiwan).jpg, National Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan
File:Copy of 1.7-Nan Tien Temple.jpg, Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
File:Chua Mot Cot.jpg, One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi
File:Seoul Geunjeongjeon 02.jpg, Gyeongbokgung (근정전) Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea
File:연못안에 위치하고 있는 경복궁의 경희루.jpg, Gyeonghoeru (경희루) Pavilion of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea
File:Korea-Danyang-Guinsa Hall Glazed Roof 2974-07.JPG, Guinsa Hall with Maroon Glazed Roof Tiles (Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea).
File:부석사 무량수전.jpg, Anyangnu (안양루) and Muryangsujeon Hall of Buseoksa Temple (부석사 무량수전), Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
File:Hongryeonam 02.jpg, Hongryeonam (홍련암) at Naksansa, Yangyang, Gangwon Province, South Korea, 676
File:Yakushiji daikodo.jpg, Yakushi-ji's (Dai)''kō-dō''
File:Kamomioya-jinja hashidono.jpg, A hip-and-gable roof at Shimogamo Shrine
File:Shikoroyane.svg, A ''shikoro-yane''
File:Shitennoji main gate.jpg, Shitennō-ji main gate and its ''shikoro-yane''
File:Tamamushi Shrine.JPG, The Tamamushi Shrine has a ''shikoro-yane''
File:Ebisu Shrine and torii of Taga Shrine.JPG, A ''haiden'' of Shinto shrine in East Asian Hip-and-Gable roof style architecture.
File:Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii.jpg, The Byodo-In Temple on Oahu island in Hawaii, United States
File:Sri Lanka - 029 - Kandy Temple of the Tooth.jpg, The ''Kandyan roof'' style of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka
File:Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa.JPG, The Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa in Lumbini, Nepal
File:Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Polgahawela.jpg, The Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery in Polgahawela, Sri Lanka
File:PaulDahlkeHaus.jpg, Das Buddhistische Haus in Berlin
File:Iringol Kavu Temple Perumbavur Kerala India DSC 5418.jpg, Iringol Kavu Temple, Kerala, India
File:Mannar Thrikkuratti Mahadev Temple, Mannar, Kerala.jpg, Mannar Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple, Kerala, India
File:Padmanabhapuram Palace, roof works.jpg, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kerala, India
File:Sree Madiyan koolom Temple kasaragod kerala.jpg, Sree Madiyan Koolom Kshethrapalaka Temple, Kerala, India
File:Maranao Torogan (c. 1908 - 1924), Philippines.jpg, A Maranao torogan from the Philippines
File:Lucio Quezons house at Baler, Aurora.jpg, A Tagalog bahay kubo from the Philippines
File:Felipe Agoncillo Mansion (Taal, Batangas)(2018-07-30).jpg, A bahay na bato from the Philippines
File:Rumah Melayu Bangkinang.JPG, A Malay rumah from Malaysia
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Traditionele Batakhuizen aan een pleintje in kampong Lingga Karolanden Sumatra`s Oostkust TMnr 60012275.jpg, A Karo Batak rumah siwaluh jabu from Indonesia ()
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een Minangkabau huis en rijstschuur in kampong Kapau omgeving Fort de Kock TMnr 10017468.jpg, A Minangkabau rumah gadang from Indonesia ()
File:Rumah Tradisional Simalungun di Museum Simalungun.jpg, A Simalungun rumah from Indonesia
File:Sebuah rumah gadnag di Tilkam 20220626 074701.jpg, A Minangkabau rumah gadang from Indonesia
File:Plate III No 14 to 16 Relief in the Prambanan temple and its modern contemporary.jpg, Sundanese houses from the 1920s and the 9th century Prambanan temple bas-reliefs of Indonesia

See also

* Gablet roof

References

{{Sri Lankan Architecture

Roofs
Architecture in Taiwan
Chinese architectural styles
Japanese architectural features
East Asian architecture
Architecture in Korea
Shinto architecture
Irimoya-zukuri