Lit. middle golden hall. An image hall *kondō 金堂 located at the center of the north-south axis of temple buildings in line with the south gate. The excavation of the Asukadera 飛鳥寺 site in Nara, revealed a chūkondō behind the small pagoda, both on the N-S axis. The excavation also exposed the placement of two more halls on either side of the pagoda. These were the west kondō, *saikondō 西金堂, and the east kondō, *tōkondō 東金堂. The east and west halls were smaller than the chūkondō and were placed facing the pagoda. Another example was discovered upon excavating the site of Kawaharadera 川原寺 (mid-7th century), also in Nara. There the pagoda was located east of the N-S axis and had a west kondō opposite it. The chūkondō was on the N-S axis facing the central gate, with an enclosing corridor attached to it on each side.