hashira　柱
CATEGORY:　architecture / general terms
　
The generic term for any type of pillar, column, post, pier and strut, the basic members of Japanese timber architecture. The character, itself, is made up of ki 木 meaning tree or wood and, by extension building timber; and 主 meaning main, chief, or master. In traditional construction, pillars are erected first and then all the structural parts including tie beams, roof framework and covering are added. Walls *kabe 壁 are not supporting structures. Stone pillars are not used in traditional buildings but are to be found in many *torii 鳥居, the post and lintel gateways marking the entrances to Shinto shrines *jinja 神社. Round stone pillars employed entasis in the 7c - 8c but this was later abandoned. From the 13c onward, Zen style *zenshuuyou 禅宗様, pillars were rounded at the top and bottom *chimaki 粽. Some pillars were chamfered *mentori 面取 and between the 10c - 13c the usual chamfer was 1/5 of the pillar's diameter. Gradually, chamfers became smaller until the 17c, when a standard chamfer of 1/10 the pillar's diameter was established. Various pillars include *tooshibashira 通し柱, which extend to the height of two stories; kudabashira 管柱 which are erected directly above each other but are separated by ceiling and flooring construction between the stories of a building; *hottatebashira 掘立柱 which are set directly in the ground without base stones. Corner pillars *sumibashira 隅柱, were built higher than others depending on the degree of upward curvature on the eaves. This arrangement is called suminobe 隅延. Sometimes pillars were erected with a slight inward inclination *uchikorobi 内転, toward the top to add to the feeling of stability. This system was also used in China. Pillars are also named according to their placement: square pillars supporting the canopy of the steps leading up to the veranda of a shrine or temple building are called kouhaibashira 向拝柱; pillars surrounding the inner sanctuary of a temple are called naijinbashira 内陣柱; the central pillar in a pagoda is called the *shinbashira 心柱; the four guardian pillars in a pagoda or temple building are called *shitenbashira 四天柱; ridge supporting pillars are called munamochibashira 棟持柱; pillars at each end of a wall placed behind the Buddhist altar are painted with the descent of the *Amida 阿弥陀 Buddha. These pillars are called *raigoubashira 来迎柱. Those separating the core area *moya 母屋 and aisles *hisashi 廂 are called irigawabashira 入側柱 (the entire moya may be the inner sanctuary in which case the naijinbashira and irigawa-bashira are synonyms). Square posts, called kakubashira 角柱, are also used on subordinate building parts, such as *mokoshi 裳階, outer aisles *magobisashi 孫廂, and the secondary posts *mabashira 間柱 are used between pillars for strengthening.
　
Houryuuji Chuumon 法隆寺中門 (Nara)
Houryuuji Chuumon 法隆寺中門 (Nara)

　
REFERENCES:
*tokobashira 床柱, *hikaebashira 控柱, *menkawabashira 面皮柱
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