kōfūzō 綱封蔵

Also called *narabigura 双倉 or twin storehouses. A large storehouse, 9 × 3 bays, erected by imperial command at Hōryūji 法隆寺 in the early Heian period. It was used to store valuables that belonged to a temple or the nobility. The storage areas are two 3 × 3 bay enclosed sections at each end of the structure. The center 3-bays are open and the storage doors open onto this area. This arrangement allows the temple's treasures to be protected as they are moved in and out of the building. The building has a raised floor, takayuka 高床, but is not in the log style, like the *Shōsōin 正倉院. When there was no intention to remove or restore objects, the floor boards in the three middle bays were taken up and kept elsewhere. There are no treasures stored in the Kōfūzō now. The posts that support the floor have floor-plates covering them. Sturdy square pillars stand on these. The walls are made of whitewashed mud plaster. On the inside, between the pillars, thick planks form a solid backing. The hipped roof *yosemune yane 寄棟屋根 is tiled *hongawarabuki 本瓦葺.