Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/613

 CHAP. V. PALACES. 499 Of about the same date a second pagoda exists at Hokujo near Nara with three storeys. At Yakushiji was erected in 680 A.D. a third example with three storeys, and projecting balconies with eaves covering the two upper storeys, which destroys the rhythm of the earlier examples, and was fortunately not repeated in later structures. In the exceptional octagonal pagoda at Bessho, there are four storeys, the only example existing. The date of the famous Tenno-ji five -storied pagoda at Osaka is not known, but the elaborate carving of the brackets and other constructional features with dragons and unicorns suggests a complete restoration, if not the actual rebuilding, of the same. The other temple structures in the temple grounds consist of the belfry (Shtiro), the drum tower (Koro), various secondary shrines, a dancing stage (Kagura-den), the revolving library (Rinzo) often constructed in the shape of a pagoda of two storeys. Priests' rooms and monastic dwellings, the latter of simple construction not differing from domestic work. The belfry is covered with the usual type of roof with 1'rimoya gables and widely projecting eaves ; it is carried by four columns raised on a platform about 10 ft. high. It is probable that on account of the great weight of the bell, the platform was built in stone originally, which would account for the peculiar concave batter of the walls, provided to withstand the earth- quakes, such as in the example at Kawa-saki (Plate LXIII.) near T6kio. Now these platforms outside the wooden cage carrying the structure have an external casing of timber, which follows the batter of the traditional stone pedestal. This shown on Plate LXIV. in the leyasu temple at Nikko and also in the temple enclosure at Ike-gami (Fig. 5, Woodcut No. 509). All the older structures in their design and construction are repeti- tions of temple buildings to a smaller scale with the same tendency in later examples to over-elaboration of ornament and carving. PALACES. The palaces of Japan which originally were simple, unosten- tatious buildings without defences have, since the military domination of the i6th century, been built within fortified enclosures surrounded by moats. The walls from 20 to 25 ft. high are built with a concave batter, the masonry of the quoins dipping down in order apparently to run less risk of being over- thrown by earthquakes, as in the event of an upheaval the stones would fall back by their own weight into their original position (Plate LXV.), representing the walls of the inner castle at Yedo (T6kio), gives some idea of their construction ; the masonry of the main wall is either built in horizontal courses, as here shown,