Rules · Roofs · Structure · Use
Build the sanctuary of unpainted cypress on posts set directly in the ground, with a raised floor and veranda, a straight thatched gable roof entered on the long side, crossed finials (chigi) and ridge billets (katsuogi), and a free-standing post at each gable carrying the ridge.
Everything in the style is straight: no curve in the roof, no bracket sets, no stone foundations, no paint. The chigi are the bargeboards continued past the ridge; the katsuogi are billets laid across the ridge to hold down the thatch. At the Inner Shrine the chigi are cut horizontally and there are ten katsuogi; at the Outer Shrine the chigi are cut vertically and there are nine. The free-standing ridge posts (munamochi-bashira) and the plan, which resembles that of the raised storehouses of the Yayoi period, suggest a very ancient origin.
The model follows the proportions of the Inner Shrine’s main sanctuary approximately.
Build the bracket set (puzuo) of blocks (dou) and arms (gong) crossing at right angles, each tier projecting no more than 30 fen beyond the one below; a set of n projecting tiers is called an (n + 3)-puzuo, from four to eight.
projection per tier ≤ 30 fen · rise per tier = 21 fen · puzuo = tiers + 3
Where the eaves must project far, replace the outer arms by slanting levers (ang) that run down and out beyond the bracket set and rise inward to be held down under an interior purlin.
From the intermediate bracket set of the second bay the rafter ends advance progressively outward, so that at the corner the eave projects further (by 4 cun for a hall of one bay, 5 for three bays, 7 for five bays) and rises with the corner beam.
Project the eaves from the centre of the eave purlin by 3½ chi for rafters of 3 cun diameter and 4 to 4½ chi for rafters of 5 cun; beyond them add flying rafters projecting six-tenths as far again.
eave projection ≈ 3½–4½ chi · flying rafters = 0.6 × eave projection
Place the tokonoma, a shallow raised alcove for a hanging scroll and flowers, in the wall opposite or beside the entrance, with staggered shelves beside it; the place of honour is the seat in front of it.
Cite this page Chris Paton, “Shinmei-zukuri: the style of Ise”, The Textbook of Architecture, https://textbookofarchitecture.com/rule/shinmei-zukuri. Text, drawings and models licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.