Japanese Buddhist temple's main hall
The main hall is the English term for the term Hondo. Mainly this term is used for the room which enshrines the main object of veneration, Buddha statues, within the Japanese Buddhist temple compound mainly known as garan. While Hondo is the exact translation for the main hall, there are other terms also which is used by particular sects and the periods. These words are Butsuden, Butsu do, knodo, and konpon chudo.
Japanese Buddhist temple's main hall as per various period
During Asuka and Nara periods
The main hall during the Asuka and Nara period is commonly known as Kondo. Literally, Kondo means golden hall. In these periods, Kondo was the centerpiece of an ancient garan or Japanese Buddhist temple compound.
The best example of Kondo which is still preserved in the current period is Horyu Ji or Asuka Dera. Horyu Ji is the first building to be built. It is a true two-story building with a 3*2 bay central core which is surrounded by a 1 bay wide, called aisles, and is surrounded by an external 1 bay wide, called mokoshi. Hence it has a total of 9*7 bays. The second storey has the same dimensions as the temple's core at the first storey but it doesn't include mokoshi. Since the size of the Kondo is very limited, worshipers were not allowed to enter the Kondo. They normally pray the Buddha statues through the outside of the Kondo. It is recorded that Kondo in the Horyu Ji temple consists of more than one. If observed at other temples, normally temples would have only one Kondo.
The use of Kondo slowly declined after the 10th century. It was then replaced by Hondo which was numerous constructed during the Heian period.
During Heian Period
The main hall during the Heian period is known as Hondo which was divided into two separate areas. First one is naijin which is the inner sanctuary reserved to the deity while the second one is gejin which is the space for worshipers. It is believed that the term, Hondo, have evolved during the 9th century to avoid the early term Knodo.
In a Heian period, as per the requirements of new doctrines, various new types of temple buildings were built. Even though, the term Hondo was used some of the particular sects of Buddhist followers used another terminology to address Hondo. Like for example - the kondo by Shingon, the chudo by Tendai, meido by Jodo, and Amida do by Shinshu. Apart from these terms, there are other terms as well, like Konpon Chudo is also used which literally means cardinal central hall. This term is used for the main hall at Mount Hiei's Enryaku Ji and Yamadera in Yamagata.
During the Kamakura period
The main hall during the Kamakura period is known as Butsuden which literally means Buddha Hall. Butsuden is mostly referred to the main hall of Zen temples of Soto schools of Buddhism and Rinzai schools of Buddhism. There are almost three types of Butsuden and these are as follow:
First one is the simplest Butsuden is of the 3*3 bay square building with no mokoshi.
The second type of Butsuden is also 3*3 bay square but it is equipped with mokoshi which has 1 bay wide around the core of the temple.
The third type of Butsuden is a large butsuden which measures 5*5 bays square, included with mokoshi. These Butsuden were in rising during the 13th and 14th centuries but in the present context, none of them survives.
During the Edo period
The main hall during the Edo period is usually called daiyu hoden which literally means the Treasured Hall of the Mahavira. During this period Obaku Zen school of Buddhism was at its rise. The architecture of this school was mostly similar to the Ming Chinese style.
Note: Apart from maintaining the blog on Buddha and Buddhism, we also manage huge collection of various period and regional Buddhist arts in our Buddha shop in the Netherlands and also showcased it in our online Buddha statues gallery. Please feel free to visit and know more about the Buddha statues.
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