This building, which is currently called the Shakado, enshrines a Seiryoji Temple-style statue of Shaka Nyorai (Gautama Buddha) as its principal image. The shumidan dais is from the Muromachi period (1336–1573) and has a decorative kurigata moldings and lotus petal carvings above and below the dais, as well as elaborate vine-patterned scrollwork in the central kozama panel. A sloping ‘pent’ roof with karahafu bargeboards was added to the building in 1830.
The Shakado is said to have been the Seiryoden pavilion at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto that was later moved to Miidera. It is a simple residential-style structure with hanshige-daruki rafters and cypress bark roofing. Its current appearance gives the viewer an impression of what an old-style dining hall at a large temple in medieval Japan may have looked like.

“Seiryoji Temple-style statue of Shaka Nyorai”

“shumidan”

“Muromachi period”

The period when the Ashikaga clan took power and founded the shogunate in Muromachi, Kyoto. It refers to approximately 180 years from 1392 when the Northern Imperial Court and Southern Imperial Court united until 1573 when Yoshiaki, the 15th Shogun was defeated by Oda Nobunaga. The late Muromachi period that came after the Coup of Meio is also called the Sengoku (Warring States) period. Some theories include the Northern and Southern Courts period (1336–1392) with the early Muromachi period.

“kurigata moldings and lotus petal carvings”

“kozama”

Wood that is hollowed out with a carving blade to decorate the side of the podium of the shumidan dais.

“vine-patterned scrollwork”

“sloping ‘pent’ roof with karahafu bargeboards”

“cypress bark roofing”

A roof made by the method where cypress bark is fixed by bamboo nails.

“hanshige-daruki”

The distance between two rafters is wider than the usual structure. Generally, the gap between two rafters are based on the sum of the height of the rafter and the width of its bottom measurement.

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Muromachi Period