A Kamakura Hall Enlarged over Three Centuries
The Saimyoji Temple Main Hall (西明寺本堂) is the early Kamakura main hall of Saimyoji at Ikedera, Kora Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture, which in 1952 was designated a National Treasure.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a single-storey hip-and-gable hall seven bays square with a three-bay porch and cypress-bark roof.
The Agency notes that the temple is said to date from 834, but the present hall is Kamakura in style, combining two different phases.
How the Hall Grew
According to the Agency, the oldest posts, brackets and frog-leg struts appear to be early Kamakura, and a gable ornament of that period survives inside the roof space. The hall was originally five bays square; in the late Kamakura period it was widened by one bay at the front and sides, with posts, brackets and struts added or moved.
At some point the rear was also extended to make it seven bays square, and a three-bay porch was added in the mid-Muromachi period. All seven front bays have top-hinged shutters; inside, the outer sanctuary has a raised coffered ceiling and the inner an exposed roof structure.
What to Look For
The Agency describes it as pure Japanese style, excellent in design, and one of the representative Kamakura Japanese-style Buddhist halls of the Kinki region.
Old and new brackets and struts can be told apart, revealing the history of its enlargement.
Visiting the Saimyoji Temple Main Hall
Check visiting hours and fees on the temple's website.
The temple's history and visiting information are on the Saimyoji group page.
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Q&A
- When was the main hall designated a National Treasure?
- On 22 November 1952.
- How did it reach its present form?
- Enlarged from five bays to seven, with a porch added in the Muromachi period.
- How is it valued?
- As a representative Kamakura Japanese-style hall of the Kinki region.
- When was Saimyoji founded?
- Traditionally in 834.
- How is the interior arranged?
- Outer and inner sanctuaries with different ceilings.
Basic Information
| Name | Saimyoji Temple Main Hall (西明寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 26 Ikedera, Kora Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | National Treasure (building) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1952/11/22 (Showa 27) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Seven by seven bays, single storey, hip-and-gable, three-bay porch, cypress bark roof |
| Owner | Saimyoji |
| Public Access | Check hours on the temple website |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Saimyoji Main Hall (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1510
Last verified: 2026.09.29
