Also called *manjūgata 饅頭形. Lit. tortoise belly.
1 A squarish bun-shaped mound covered with white plaster. It was devised to create a raised surface on which to place base stones *soseki 礎石 or other supporting members for a wooden floor itayuka 板床 and building framework *jiku 軸. An early example of kamebara may be found at Ichijōji *Sanjū no tō 一乗寺三重塔 (1171) in Hyōgo Prefecture.
a) enkazura 縁葛 b) enzuka 縁束 c) kamebara 亀腹
Sanjūsangendō 三十三間堂 (Kyoto)
2 The rotund, white, plaster-covered form extending above the lower roof of the two-storied *tahōtō 多宝塔, a pagoda dedicated to Tahō nyorai 多宝如来 (Sk. Prabhutaratna tathagata).
Negoroji Daitō 根来寺大塔 (Wakayama)
3 The bun-shaped base stones supporting the pillars of certain Shinto gates *torii 鳥居, including *myōjin torii 明神鳥居, *inari torii 稲荷鳥居 and *ryōbu torii 両部鳥居.