A Buddhist hall dedicated to *Miroku 弥勒 (Sk: Maitreya), the compassionate bodhisattva of the future. This deity is expected to descend to the world of human beings from the Tosotsuten 兜率天 (Sk; Tusita) heaven, the fourth of six heavens, 5,670 million years after the death of *Shaka 釈迦, the founder of Buddhism (565-486 BC). Miroku will become a Buddha in order to save those people who have not yet received enlightenment. One example of mirokudō is the Jison-in Mirokudō 慈尊院弥勒堂 (Kamakura period) in Wakayama Prefecture. It is a small, single storied, square building 3 × 3 bays (6.39 m square), with hinged doors that fill the center bays on each side. The roof is pyramidal *hōgyō-zukuri 宝形造, and covered with cypress bark shingles *hiwadabuki 桧皮葺. The peak of the roof is protected by a stone, box-like cover *roban 露盤, on top of which is an inverted bowl-like fixture *fukubachi 伏鉢, crowned by an onion-shaped, jewel-like *hōju 宝珠 ornament. The date of September 29, 1466 is carved on the hōju. Under the single eaves *hitonoki 一軒, the pillars *hashira 柱, are capped with boat-shaped bracket arms *funahijiki 舟肘木. Rafters are widely spaced *mabaradaruki 疎垂木. On the interior, the core of the building *moya 母屋, is 1 × 1 bay with aisles *hisashi 廂, surrounding it. Boat-shaped brackets are also used on the pillars at each corner of the moya. The ceiling above the moya is a finely latticed, coffered type called *kogumi gōtenjō 小組格天井. The hisashi has an open beam ceiling *keshō yaneura 化粧屋根裏. The altar has a high railing and has panels ornamented with a foliate pattern *kōzama 格狭間.