Details of the pagoda at Myo-o-in, Hiroshima

The above photo shows the veranda of the five storied pagoda at Myo-o-in, Hiroshima.　Of the 22 traditional wooden five storied pagodas in Japan, 15 are equipped with a veranda, meaning about 70 % of the total.

This pagoda was constructed in the Wayo Japanese architectural manner. Wayo is defined as the architectural techniques and styles evolved in Japan from the 8c through the 12c based on the prototypes introduced from China during the T'ang dynasty. At the end of the 12 century, new styles were introduced from China again. That was when the expression Wayo was coined to distinguish the old and new.

The photo below identifies three typical Wayo features. One is the Renji-mado or vertically latticed windows in contrast to the newly introduced cusped windows; another the Itakara-do wooden plank doors versus the Sankara-do paneled doors framed by horizontal crosspieces and vertical mullions; and the last the onion-bulb shaped Giboshi ornament on top of the newels of railings instead of the inverted lotus flower Gyakuren ornament.

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