
is a Buddhist architectural style developed in Japan before the
Kamakura period
The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...
(1185-1333), and is one of the important Buddhist architectural styles in Japan along with ''
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 mo ...
'' and the ''
Zenshūyō
is a Japanese Buddhist architecture, Japanese Buddhist architectural style derived from Chinese Song Dynasty architecture. Named after the Zen, Zen sect of Buddhism in Japan, Buddhism which brought it to Japan, it emerged in the late 12th or ea ...
'', which were developed based on Chinese architectural styles from the Kamakura period. This style originated in the
Asuka (538-710) and
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capita ...
(710-794), when Japanese studied Buddhist architecture of the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
, and was improved in the
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
(794-1185) to suit the Japanese climate and aesthetic sense. After the Kamakura period, the ''Wayō'' developed into the ''Shin-wayō'' style by combining it with the ''Daibutsuyō'', and further developed into the ''
Setchūyō
is an architectural style born in Japan during the Muromachi period from the fusion of elements from three different antecedent styles: ''wayō'', ''daibutsuyō'', and ''zenshūyō''. It is exemplified by the Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism), main ...
'' by combining it with the ''Zenshūyō'', and pure ''Wayō'' architecture decreased.
Overview
The name was coined later, during the
Kamakura period
The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...
when the other two styles were born. Because by then the style was considered to be native, the term started to be used to distinguish older styles from those just arrived from China. It was characterized by simplicity, refraining from ornamentation, use of natural timber and in general plain materials. Structurally, it was distinguished by a
main hall divided in two parts, an outer area for novices and an inner area for initiates, a hip-and-
gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...
roof covering both areas, a raised wooden floor instead of the tile or stone floors of earlier temples, extended eaves to cover the front steps;
shingles
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster or zona, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or face. T ...
or bark rather than tile roofing; and a disposition of the ''
shichidō garan
''Shichidō garan'' is a Buddhism in Japan, Japanese Buddhist term indicating the seven Dō (architecture), halls composing the ideal Buddhist temple compound. This compound word is composed of , literally meaning "seven halls", and , meaning " ...
'' adapting to the natural environment, rather than following the symmetrical layouts prevalent for example in ''
Zen
Zen (; from Chinese: ''Chán''; in Korean: ''Sŏn'', and Vietnamese: ''Thiền'') is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka phil ...
'' temples.
During the Heian period temples were built using only non-penetrating tie beams () made to fit around columns and pillars and nailed. The ''daibutsuyō'' style, first, and the ''
zenshūyō
is a Japanese Buddhist architecture, Japanese Buddhist architectural style derived from Chinese Song Dynasty architecture. Named after the Zen, Zen sect of Buddhism in Japan, Buddhism which brought it to Japan, it emerged in the late 12th or ea ...
'' style, later, replaced them with penetrating tie-beams (), which actually pierced the column, and were therefore much more effective against earthquakes. The ''nageshi'' was, however, retained as a purely decorative element.
Temples in this style, uninfluenced by the later styles, can be found mostly in the
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, often also Mie, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. The metropoli ...
region, and particularly in
Nara
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...
.
Shin-Wayō
During the
Muromachi period
The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...
, the combination of ''wayō'' with elements of the ''
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 mo ...
'' style became so frequent that sometimes it is called by scholars .
See also
*
*''
Setchūyō
is an architectural style born in Japan during the Muromachi period from the fusion of elements from three different antecedent styles: ''wayō'', ''daibutsuyō'', and ''zenshūyō''. It is exemplified by the Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism), main ...
''
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wayo
Japanese Buddhist architecture
Japanese architectural history
Japanese architectural styles