godaidō 五大堂

A hall dedicated to the five guardian kings, also called the five renowned deities *Godai Myōō 五大明王, in the Shingon 真言 sect of Esoteric Buddhism mikkyō 密教. The five deities with frightening faces are *Fudō Myōō 不動明王 placed in the center; *Gōzanze Myōō 降三世明王 to the east; *Gundari Myōō 軍荼利明王 to the south; *Daiitoku Myōō 大威徳明王 to the west and *Kongōyasha Myōō 金剛夜叉明王 to the north. When a ceremony is performed each deity must be placed on his respective platform. Example; Zuiganji Godaidō 瑞巖寺五大堂 (1604), Miyagi Prefecture, 3 × 3 bays (6.87 m) excluding the surrounding veranda. The bracket complexes are simple 2-stepped type *futatesakigumi 二手先組. Frog-leg struts *kaerumata 蟇股 are centered in the interstices *nakazonae 中備 between the bracket complexes placed atop each pillar *hashira 柱. Rafters are closely spaced *shigedaruki 繁垂木. The tiled roof *hongawarabuki 本瓦葺 is pyramidal *hōgyō-zukuri 宝形造 with double eaves *futanoki 二軒. The interior has a finely, latticed coffered ceiling *kogumi gōtenjō 小組格天井 surrounding the center of the coved ceiling *oriage tenjō 折上天井. The Buddhist altar *shumidan 須弥壇 and miniature shrine *zushi 厨子 have sculptured decoration. There is a one-bay, ikken 一間, step canopy *kōhai 向拝. A low railing surrounds the wooden-floored veranda. Doors open in the center bays on all sides. The bays on either side of the main entrance facing the step canopy are latticed on the exterior and open horizontally *shitomido 蔀戸.