User:Urashimataro/kan'eiji

Diversification of shrine structure

The Asuka (538–710) and Nara Periods (710-794) were the most active period in the historyos shrine construction and mark the birth of the first permanent shrines. As important shrines as Ise, Izumo, Ōtori and Sumiyoshi acquired their most enduring features at this time. the period gave birth to a great variety of shrine architectural styles, whose evolution can be summarized in six different stages.

1. In their earliest forms, shrines had uncovered stairs, a feature inherited from the temporary shrines they had evolved from. With time, a cover called hisashi, kashi-kakushi or Kohai was added to protect its users fro the rain. This was to become a feature of Shinto architecture. An important example of is the tsumairi kasuga-zukuri architectonic style, named after Kasuga-taisha. A typical tsumairi style with a hisashi is the nagarezukuri.
2. Introduction of Buddhist techniques and styles.
3. Honden floor plans were simplified and scaled down.
4. Appearance of the haiden
5. Introduction oof the rōmon and kairō from Buddhism.
6. Introduction of the ishi-no-ma