A lecture hall at Hōryūji Tōin 法隆寺東院 (Hōryūji East Compound), dating from about the mid-8th century, the time when the East Compound was being constructed. At present, it is 7 × 4 bays (25.00 m × 10.68 m). The plan is typical of the period style of a core, *moya 母屋, surrounded by aisles, *hisashi 廂, on all four sides. The ceiling is open to the underside of the roof, *keshō yaneura 化粧屋根裏. Tall pillars mark the division between hisashi and moya. Rainbow beams, *kōryō 虹梁, stretch from pillar to pillar over the hisashi. Frog-leg struts, *kaerumata 蟇股, placed at the center of the rainbow beams, carry bearing blocks, *masu 斗, which in turn grip bracket arms, *hijiki 肘木, at right angles to the rainbow beams and frog-leg struts. Spanning the central core are double rainbow beams with frog-leg struts, *nijūkōryō kaerumata 二重虹梁蟇股. These structural parts appear on the gable ends with the addition of a center pillar which is omitted at each end of the moya. The bracket complexes, *kumimono 組物, are composed of large bearing blocks into which bracket arms, *daito hijiki 大斗肘木, are inserted. The double eaves are called *futanoki 二軒, and the closely spaced rafters are called *shigedaruki 繁垂木. The gable roof, *kirizuma-zukuri 切妻造, is tiled, *hongawarabuki 本瓦葺. The building is constructed on a stone podium and the pillars are set into base stones but the floor is wooden, and was wooden even in the Nara period when, generally, floors of Buddhist halls were earthen. There have been many dismantling repairs, the latest between 1938-43. By minute investigation of all the structural members, especially the marks and nail holes on old timbers, the rebuilders were able to ascertain the original arrangements. Furthermore, they confirmed beyond doubt that this building was donated by Lady Tachibana 橘 in the mid-8th century. The donated structure was 5 bays long with a slatted floor veranda, sunokoen 簀子縁. It was later reconstructed into an enclosed 7-bay hall. Because of its location, crowded behind the shichijōya 七丈屋, now called *shariden-eden 舎利殿絵殿, its importance waned so that it never underwent extensive repairs like the *Yumedono 夢殿, also located in the East Compound. Therefore, its original form was well-preserved.
