Three-storied pagoda @ Yakushiji

West Pagoda rebuilt by NISHIOKA

Each extending roof is double-roofed so at a glance the pagoda looks like six-storied but this is a three-storied pagoda at Yakushiji temple in Nishi-no-kyo, Nara prefecture. Note: three-storied does not mean there are three floors but simply put there's the first floor and the rest is an attic where beams and pillars are combined. 

The temple has two three-storied pagodas standing in a symmetrical manner on the premises. One is from the 8th century and the other was rebuilt in 1981 supervised by late master carpenter NISHIOKA Tsunekazu whom I truly admire.

The old east pagoda will be covered for several years for restoration but the new west pagoda was what I intended to see this time. NISHIOKA had the great opportunities to rebuild two historical pagodas in Nara to try out his mastery of constructing old temple and shrine buildings. 

It seems the traditional techniques and excellent nature of wood are reevaluated and more pagodas are now being built of wood rather than concrete. 

Wood, as timber, is still alive and wooden buildings last longer if their true nature is understood by architects and carpenters in charge.

The west pagoda is currently taller than the old east pagoda, but they will be of the same height in 500 years according to NISHIOKA.