The building of Hie shrine (built in 1659, destroyed by fire in 1945) was built in Gongen-style. The building of Nezu shrine (built in 1706) is in the same style as Hie shrine. Usually, in the Gongen-style built in the shrines other than Tosho-gu before the Shoo era, it often has Nagare-zukuri (asymmetrical gable roof) style main sanctuary of which status is lower than Tosho-gu. In contrast, the main sanctuaries of both shrines have same style as Tosho-gu although they are common shrine. However, No this fact have been pointed out.
This paper pays attention to the building of Hie shrine was also known as the most luxurious shrine building in Edo since the Edo era, through comparison with Gongen-style built in Tosho-gu and the shrines other than Tosho-gu before the Shoo era, clarify that the characteristics of Hie shrine and Nezu shrine. And we considered that historical context of the shrines other than Tosho-gu built in Gongen-style constructed by Tokugawa Shogunate.
Through this analysis, we establish the following facts:
1. Before the Shoo era, the votive offering hall type Gongen-style has simplified form compared to the stone hall type Gongen-style, in the width of eave in front of main sanctuary, sectional shape of column, and innermost fence type.
2. The buildings of Hie shrine and Nezu shrine are basically given in votive offering hall type Gongen-style before the Shoo era. But, the main sanctuaries, the eave in front of main sanctuary, and innermost fence type, are ranked as the stone hall type Gongen-style.
3. The votive offering hall type Gongen-style was brought into use in the shrines which are treated as a certain Tokugawa Shogun's ubusunafami (guardian deity of their birthplace). Especially Hie shrine was also placed as the successive Tokugawa Shogun's ubusunagami.
The authors conclude with Hie shrine is the building that adopting status expression of the stone hall type Gongen-style in the votive offering hall type Gongen-style, as the successive Tokugawa Shogun's ubusunagami, and it became the most luxurious shrine building in Edo. Also, The building of Nezu shrine is following the building of Hie shrine, and modest composition compared to Hie shrine as the Shogun Ienobu's ubusunagami.
A portion of back ground to collapse of combination of main sanctuary and the building between main sanctuary and worship hall has been brought to light. And the status expression example of Gongen-style by official carpenter of Tokugawa shogunate is clarified.
