hashira 柱

The generic term for any type of pillar, column, post, pier, and strut, the basic members of Japanese timber architecture. The character, itself, is made up of ki 木 meaning tree or wood and, by extension building timber; and 主 meaning main, chief, or master. In traditional construction, pillars are erected first and then all the structural parts including tie beams, roof framework and covering are added. Walls *kabe 壁 are not supporting structures. Stone pillars are not used in traditional buildings but are to be found in many *torii 鳥居, the post and lintel gateways marking the entrances to Shinto shrines *jinja 神社. Round stone pillars employed entasis in the 7th century-8th century, but this was later abandoned. From the 13th century onward, Zen style *zenshūyō 禅宗様 pillars were rounded at the top and bottom *chimaki 粽. Some pillars were chamfered *mentori 面取 and between the 10th century-13th century the usual chamfer was 1/5 of the pillar's diameter. Gradually, chamfers became smaller until the 17th century, when a standard chamfer of 1/10 the pillar's diameter was established. Various pillars include *tōshibashira 通し柱, which extend to the height of two stories; kudabashira 管柱 which are erected directly above each other but are separated by ceiling and flooring construction between the stories of a building; *hottatebashira 掘立柱 which are set directly in the ground without base stones. Corner pillars *sumibashira 隅柱 were built higher than others depending on the degree of upward curvature on the eaves. This arrangement is called suminobe 隅延. Sometimes pillars were erected with a slight inward inclination *uchikorobi 内転 toward the top to add to the feeling of stability. This system was also used in China. Pillars are also named according to their placement: square pillars supporting the canopy of the steps leading up to the veranda of a shrine or temple building are called kōhaibashira 向拝柱; pillars surrounding the inner sanctuary of a temple are called naijinbashira 内陣柱; the central pillar in a pagoda is called the *shinbashira 心柱; the four guardian pillars in a pagoda or temple building are called *shitenbashira 四天柱; ridge supporting pillars are called munamochibashira 棟持柱; pillars at each end of a wall placed behind the Buddhist altar are painted with the descent of the *Amida 阿弥陀 Buddha. These pillars are called *raigōbashira 来迎柱. Those separating the core area *moya 母屋 and aisles *hisashi 廂 are called irigawabashira 入側柱 (the entire moya may be the inner sanctuary in which case the naijinbashira and irigawabashira are synonyms). Square posts, called kakubashira 角柱, are also used on subordinate building parts, such as *mokoshi 裳階, outer aisles *magobisashi 孫廂, and the secondary posts *mabashira 間柱 are used between pillars for strengthening.