Shinmei-zukuri

A building at Ise Shrine

Shinmei-zukuri(Thần minh tạo)is an ancient Japanesearchitectural styletypical ofIse Grand Shrine'shonden,the holiest ofShinto shrines.It is most common inMie Prefecture.

History

Ancientshrineswere constructed according to the style of dwellings (Izumo Taisha)or storehouses (Ise Grand Shrine).The buildings hadgabled roofs,raised floors, plank walls, and werethatchedwith reed or covered withhinoki cypressbark.Such early shrines did not include a space for worship.Three important forms of ancient shrine architectural styles exist:taisha-zukuri,shinmei-zukuri,andsumiyoshi-zukuriThey are exemplified byIzumo Taisha,Nishina Shinmei ShrineandSumiyoshi Taisha,respectively, and date to before 552.According to the tradition ofShikinen sengū-sai(Thức năm dời cung tế),the buildings or shrines were faithfully rebuilt at regular intervals adhering to the original design. In this manner, ancient styles have been replicated through the centuries to the present day.

Ise Shrine'shonden

Structure

This style is characterized by an extreme simplicity. Its basic features can be seen in Japanese architecture from theKofun period(250–538 C.E.) onwards and it is considered the pinnacle of Japanese traditional architecture.Built in plane-unfinished wood, thehondenis either 3x2kenor 1x1kenin size, has a raised floor, a gabled roofwith an entry on one of the non-gabled sides (hirairiorhirairi-zukuri(Bình nhập ・ bình nhập tạo)), no upward curve at the eaves, and purely decorative logs calledchigi(vertical) andkatsuogi(horizontal) protruding from the roof's ridge.

Because shrines used to be rebuilt every 20 years, as Ise Shrine still is, shrines of this type are mostly of recent construction. The oldest extant example isNishina Shinmei Shrine,which gives the name to the style.

See also

• Austronesian architecture

References

• JAANUS,Shinmei-zukuriaccessed on December 1, 2009
• History and Typology of Shrine Architecture,Encyclopedia of Shinto accessed on November 29, 2009
• Kishida, Hideto (2008).Japanese Architecture.READ BOOKS.ISBN978-1-4437-7281-5.Retrieved2009-11-11.,
• Young, David; Young, Michiko (2007) [2004].The art of Japanese architecture.Architecture and Interior Design (illustrated, revised ed.). Tuttle Publishing.ISBN978-0-8048-3838-2.Retrieved2009-11-11.