Keywords
Architecture
General Terms
The four pillars placed around the central pillar to form a square area on the first story of a pagoda. Four pillars also are placed around the Buddhist altar in an image hall, especially one dedicated to *Amida 阿弥陀, and are then called *raigō-bashira 来迎柱. Shiten-bashira denote the sanctuary or most sacred area within the structure. If a wall called *raigō-kabe 来迎壁 is made between the two rear pillars, they are called raigō-bashira. When only two rear pillars are used, they may be called niten-bashira 二天柱. Example: Hōkaiji Amidadō 法界寺阿弥陀堂 (12th century) in Kyoto.