Structures which divided the Naniwa Palace into sections, in particular the compound corridors

Abstract

This paper examined the feature and scales of structures which divided the Naniwa Palace into sections excavated at the Naniwa Palace site until now, by collecting such as the compound corridors, the simple corridors, the pillared fences, and the tamped-earth walls with roofs (Tsuiji). The compound corridor is a type of corridor. This corridor is characteristic as the two passages with one roof. And it ascertained that the width of beam of compound corridor had the regularity in the Former Naniwa Palace as pointed out until now. Moreover,in time of the Latter Naniwa Palace, the beam's width of the compound corridor with embedded pillars measures 8 shaku around the Imperial Domicile, and 8.5 shaku around the Imperial Audience Hall with pillar base stones. The foundation of corridor placed at the south side of the State Halls Compound is assumed as a base of a compound corridor. And this corridor is narrower than that of the Imperial Audience Hall. From these archaeological evidences, it becomes the conclusion that there were differences in a building style and a scale in the compound corridor of the Latter Naniwa Palace. Furthermore, from the documents of Heian period, the corridors of the Heian period were used in various ceremonies, it was surmised that the beam's width of the corridor of Asuka and the Nara period had been represented the practical roles as various kinds of courtesy and extraordinary seats at the time of rain, while the social status of a building and the magnificence of the court.