APPENDIX-5(6)
(iii) Change in Residential Architecture of the aristocrats
Since no ancient residential buildings remain today -- not even
those of the aristocrats -- we can only imagine the buildings
from the available records. According to those records, the general
outline of a typical aristocrat's residence would be as follows:
In the center of the premises, 1cho (block, 120m x 120m) in area,
the shinden (living quarters of the owner) was built. To the south
of the residence, a hiraniwa, a garden where ceremonies were held,
was laid out. Further south, a beautiful garden with a pond was
constructed. Around all four sides of the moya (core of the building)
of the shinden, hisashi (enclosed aisles) were added, and on the
gable side there was a wooden plank door and misu (reed screen).
The interior was a large open space with no partitions, expect
for the sleeping room which was enclosed by partition made of
wooden planks.
Although no actual shinden-style buildings of the Heian Period
remain today, there are two later buildings which clearly show
the main features of that style: the Ninna-ji Kondo, which was
originally constructed as the Shishinden (main formal hall of
state ceremonies) of the imperial palace at that time, and the
Daishido at Kyo-o-gokoku-ji.
In the late 12th century, power changed hands from the aristocrats,
who devoted their lives to ceremonies and observances, to the
samurai (military) class, who regarded human relations as important
in life. Consequently, the reception of visitors became an important
function to be considered in the design of residences.
The residence of the Shogun and the Sekke (highest-ranking noble
families), though reflecting the flow of the ancient shinden style,
clearly divided the residence into its respective functions with
permanent partitions. In addition, they also built detached buildings
such as kaisho for receiving visitors tsunenogosho as there living
quarters.
As the samurai class gained power both politically and economically,
they began to build country villas on the outskirts of the city.
On their huge premises, they built buildings and gardens on a
grand scale utilizing the natural terrain. Unlike the earlier
gardens, featuring only small structures such as hashidono (bridge
structures) and tei (gazebos), a multi-storied pavilions were
built inside the gardens. Representative examples of such structures
are the Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion) at Rokuon-ji and the Ginkaku
(Silver Pavilion) at Jisho-ji. In later years, this style developed
into an unique, lighter form as can be seen in the Hiunkaku (pavilion)
at Hongan-ji.
Throughout the medieval age, the shinden building of most upper
class residences was divided into a northern and a southern part.
The southern section was used for receiving visitors and the northern
section was used as the living quarters. The interior of the building
gradually came to be separated by sliding fusuma doors or walls
and the whole floor was covered with tatami (floor mats made of
straw). In addition, around this time, various elements of the
interior furnishing of the later shoin style houses, such as tokonoma
(alcoves), chigaidana (alcove shelves), tsuke-shoin (built-in
desks) and chodaigamae (decorated interior entrance spaces) came
into use one bye one. The series of changes described above led
to the establishment of the next major residential architectural
style, that of shoin-zukuri, the successor to shinden-zukuri.
The residences of samurai in the early modern age (late 16th century
to late 19th century) were based on the shoin style, of which
the origin can be seen in the Togudo at Jisho-ji. Emphasis was
placed on showing the power and dignity of the samurai by providing
the rooms with gorgeous and elaborate decoration.
A major part of the residential compound of a daimyo (feudal lord)
was occupied by the guest reception building, which had large
chambers, or hiroma. The residence itself was detached from the
reception building. Connected to each were the kitchen and quarters
for the servants. Each of these buildings had its own function
and was ranked in order of importance. The insides of these buildings
had distinctive floors, ceilings, and decoration according its
function and ranking. The reception building was especially gorgeously
decorated.
The Ninomaru Goten of Nijo-jo, used as the Kyoto residence of
the Shogun, is said to be the most complete shoin style building
remaining today. The Shoin at Hongan-ji also shows the style of
the buildings in this period.
On the other hand, along with the development of chanoyu (tea
ceremony), which became an important element in entertaining guests
during the 16th century, simple sukiya-fu shoin style architecture
base on the soan style (a simple thatched hermitage designed in
the image of a poor farmer's house) with a free form of decoration
was developed. This style was adopted also in places like the
Kuroshoin at Hongan-ji.
