Saikyoji Temple Chozuya

A Water Pavilion from Around 1816

Saikyoji Temple Chozuya (西教寺手水屋, Saikyō-ji Chōzuya) is a purification pavilion built around 1816 in the front garden southeast of the main hall of Saikyoji in Saiwai, Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, and it was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on October 7, 2014.

It is a timber pavilion of 4.6 square metres with a gabled kirizuma roof of interlocking round and flat tiles, open on all four sides. A stone basin sits at its centre, where visitors rinse their hands and mouth before approaching the hall. Izumi City's heritage guide calls it a well pavilion (idoyakata).

After the main hall of 1808, the Saikyoji chozuya is the second-oldest of the temple's registered buildings.

Four Leaning Posts and Careful Joinery

The Saikyoji Temple Chozuya was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs praises how carefully its details are finished for so small a building.

Its four square posts lean slightly inward as they rise. On top of them, boat-shaped funahijiki bracket arms are slotted into the post heads to carry the purlins and the gable tie-beam.

A short strut stands on the tie-beam, and a kaerumata brace decorates the ridge line. A structure of about 4.6 square metres thus has the full vocabulary of the main hall and gates.

What to Look For

Look at the four posts from the side and you will see them tilt inward toward the top, a slight lean that makes the small roof look settled and secure.

Then look up under the roof: bracket arms on the posts, purlins on the arms, the strut on the tie-beam, and the carved brace at the ridge. It is worth pausing here on the way to the main hall.

Visiting the Saikyoji Temple Chozuya

The Saikyoji Temple Chozuya stands open in the front garden, and once inside the precinct you can see it up close. Whether the basin is in use may vary, so follow the temple's guidance, and ask about photography before taking pictures. Directions are on the Saikyoji Temple (Izumi) page.