Sumiyoshi-zukuri style (住吉造)
Sumiyoshi-zukuri style is one of the architectural styles of shrines in Japan.
Summary
Sumiyoshi-zukuri style, which is typified by Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine, is characterized by its ancient linear hafu (a barge board), and many have pointed out its resemblance to the building constructed in the Daijo-sai festival (a festival to celebrate the succession of an emperor). It is one of the oldest architectural styles of shrines, along with shinmei-zukuri style, which is exemplified by Ise-jingu Shrine, and taisha-zukuri style, which is epitomized by Izumo-taisha Shrine.
Structures
Sumiyoshi-zukuri style architecture has no veranda (a narrow wooden passageway along the edge of a house facing the garden) or the sacred core pillar installed at the center of the main sanctuary of a shrine, and the inside is divided into a naijin (inner sanctuary of a shrine or temple) and a gejin (part of the main sanctuary outside the innermost sanctum of a shrine). It is rectangular with a width of approx. 3.6 meters and a depth of approx. 7.3 meters, approx. 3.6 meters each for the naijin and gejin.
The structure of sumiyoshi-zukuri style employs kirizuma-zukuri style (an architectural style with a gabled roof) with a Tsuma-iri (entrance on the gable side), and its planar working gives a linear outlook.
Roofs
The roofs are not necessarily thatched; there are wide varieties, from kokerabuki (a roof covering made with a layer of thin wooden shingles made of cypress) to hiwadabuki (cypress bark roof).
The hafu of Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine is linear-shaped, and the embellishment of gable pediments is 交叉合掌型.
Pillars
The architecture is approx. 3.6 meters wide and approx. 7.3 meters deep without the sacred core pillar installed at the center of the main sanctuary of a shrine, or pillars at the center on the front.
Walls
A double-door opening is provided at one location, at the center on the front.
Floors
The floor is lower than those of taisha-zukuri style and shinmei-zukuri style.