hakkaku endou　八角円堂

KEY WORD :　architecture / buildings & structures

Lit. eight-sided circular. An octagonal circular hall *hakkakudou 八角堂, derived form a combination of an original circular hall *endou 円堂, and the more easily constructed eight or six-sided halls *rokkaku endou 六角円堂.　An example of a hall that is really octagonal at the core and is called is the Saijou Daigenguu 斎場太元宮 at Yoshida Jinja 吉田神社 (1601) in Kyoto. It is the chief structure and is unique. A hexagonal one-bay addition extends from the rear and there is a single-bay worship space *kouhai 向拝. There is also an open step-canopy with a pent roof *hisashi 廂, supported by two square posts at the eave ends. The pentagonal posts form the octagon and hexagonal extension at the rear. Eight circular posts surround the central core. A shallow veranda *engawa 縁側, with a railing called a hanedashi kouran 刎出高欄 surrounds the building except where steps are located at the front and at the center of both sides. Beneath the building is a *kamebara 亀腹, a turtle-back-shaped mound covered with white plaster. The roof is a thatched *kayabuki 茅葺, hip-and -gable type *irimoya yane 入母屋屋根, which is an unusual style for an octagonal hall. The finials *chigi 千木, are extensions of the bargeborards. The upper ends of the finials on the front side of the bargeboards are cut straight across while those at the rear are cut vertically. The former symbolize female deities while the latter symbolize male deities. The billets *katsuogi 堅魚木 are round and grouped in threes, with two set side by side and one placed on top.

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