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Kairō (回廊 or 廻廊),bu (廡),sōrō orhorō (歩廊) is the Japanese version of acloister, a covered corridor originally built around the most sacred area of aBuddhist temple, a zone which contained thekondō and thetō. Nowadays it can be found also atShinto shrines and atshinden-zukuri aristocratic residences.[1]
Thekairō and therōmon were among the most important among thegaran elements which appeared during the Heian period.[2] The first surrounded the holiest part of thegaran, while the second was its main exit. Neither was originally characteristic of Shinto shrines, but in time they often came to replace the traditional shrine surrounding fence calledtamagaki.[2] The earliest example of akairō/rōmon complex can be found atIwashimizu Hachiman-gū, a shrine now but a formershrine-temple (神宮寺).[3] Therōmon is believed to have been built in 886, and thekairō roughly at the same time.Itsukushima Jinja is an example of the mature form of the complex.
Two types ofkairō exist, one 1-bay wide and another 2-bay wide, the bay being the space between two pillars. The first is by far the most common.
The 1-bay wide type is supported by just two rows of pillars and is therefore calledtanrō (単廊,lit. single corridor). Typical windows calledrenjimado (連子窓) (see gallery) let air and light in.
The 2-bay wide type is supported by three rows of pillars, is calledfukurō (複廊,lit. multiple corridors) and is divided in two identical corridors by a wall (see model in the gallery). Although it is known that several existed at major Buddhist temples, for example atTōdai-ji, none is extant.[4] Somefukurō survive however at Shinto shrines.
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