Monograph No. 11

MEDIAEVAL BUDDHIST MONASTERIES － An Architectural Study －

CONTENTS

Page

CHAPTER I. Introduction ‐ “In-ke” Monastic Architecture　1

CHAPTER II. Origin of “In-ke” Monastic Architecture　4

CHAPTER III. Monasteries around the Ninnaji Temple　18

CHAPTER IV. Monasteries in Shirakawa　54

CHAPTER V. Toba-dono Villas and Monasteries　 98

CHAPTER VI. Hojuji-dono villas and Monasteries　117

CHAPTER VII. Conclusion　140

English Summary　vi

AN ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF MEDIAEVAL BUDDHIST MONASTERIE

　The Buddhist temple consists of, as a rule, structures for worship in which the Buddha's relics, images and other sacred objects, are enshrined and living quarters of monks.　The former include Buddha's hall, pagoda, lecture hall and others, which form the neucleus of the temple, while the latter dormitory, dining hall and storehouse, Through the long history of Buddhism in Japan remarkable changes appeared in the layout and construction of the monks' residence perhaps due to changes in the mode of living. In the early days the monks lived in the "sanmen－sobo'' or monastic apartments along three sides of the lecture hall.　After the mliddle of the Heian period the main edifices of the temple and the living quarters of monks were separated, the latter constituting a monastery, belonging to the main temple. This kind of monastery was called "In"(院),and the residential monastery was called"In- ke"(院 家 )which was modelled after the mansion of noblemen and much different from the old dormitory.
　The present work is intended to clarify the process of the development of the "In-ke" monastery which replased the ancient domitory.　Even in the early temples there were a few cases where separate houses were erected besides the dormitory to house high priests.　At the Ninnaji Temple, established in 888 A.D., in the western suburbs of Kyoto, a monastery was built for emperors and priest-emperors, and it was called "Gyoshitsu" or "August Chamber", which was also used as residence of princes who became chief priestesses of the temple. Hence the Ninnaji Temple became known by the name of "Omuro" which also means "August Chamber".　Several monasteries were added to the temple by later emperors, empresses, princes, princesses and court ladies.　When to construct monasteries around a temple having became a fashion among the ruling class, monasteries were bullt around the six large temples, popularly known as the Rokushoji Temple in the Shirakawa district in the eastern suburbs of Kyoto in the reign of Emperor Shirakawa in the 11th century.　Now, the monastery became the center of politics and goverment under the priest-emperors.　In the southern suburbs of Kyoto another group of Imperial villas was inaugurated by Emperor Shirakawa and was called Toba-dono.　In the 12th century Priest emperor Goshirakawa built the Hojuji-dono in a similar style in the south eastern part of Kyoto.　This monastic palace was enormous and beutiful with many annexes.　But the successive subsequent wars destroyed them all save the Rengeoin Main Hall known as San-ju-sangen-do which was rebuilt in 1253 A.D.
　The study of "In-ke" architecture faces difficulty.　The only structure existing today is the Rengeoin Hall.　Materials had to be collected largely from documentary sources such as sketch plans, diaries, ritual records, paintings and books preserved in the archives of temple and other libralies.　The sites of some monasteries had been identified from documentary evidence and were excavated; the remains of buildings and artifacts were recovered.　These materials, though still insufficient, seems to shed new light upon various features of the monastic architecture of the Middle Ages.
　The architectural style of these monasteries exercised profound influences not only upon the manshions of the high nobility and powerful warriors but temple architecture in the succeeding periods.　The Saionji Temple whose site was later occupied by the Kinkakuji Temple, is an example of an aristocratic mansion influenced by the monastics style, while the Honganji Temples in Yamashina and Osaka are examples of temples that were laid out after the monastic fashion.