[For First-Class Architect Examinees] Mnemonic No. 5 Shosoin

Mnemonic Collection (1) History of Japanese Architecture

No. 5 Shosoin

<Associative Mnemonic (Comprehensive Version)>

To ensure the Nara treasure chest (Nara period, Shosoin) is not stolen, the left and right sides are 'Aze-Aze!' (North and South storehouses are Azekura-zukuri) -> the middle is 'Ita!' (Middle storehouse is Itakura-zukuri) -> feet are high (raised-floor style), and the roof is gathered (Yosemune-zukuri)!

<Associative Mnemonic (Rhythm Version)>

Nara's Shosoin, both ends are Azekura, the middle is Itakura, Empress Komyo dedicated the treasures!

Item | Content

Importance | A
Period | Nara period, around the 8th year of Tenpyo-Shoho (756)
Building | Shosoin Shoso (Shosoin Main Storehouse)
Location | Zoshi-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture; northwest of the Todai-ji Daibutsuden
Style | Raised-floor warehouse. North and South storehouses are Azekura-zukuri, Middle storehouse is Itakura-zukuri. Yosemune-zukuri (hipped roof), Honkawara-buki (tiled roof).
Designer/Related Parties | Designer unknown / Emperor Shomu, Empress Komyo, Todai-ji. Related to Empress Komyo dedicating the Emperor's cherished items to Todai-ji after his passing.

Features/Related Matters | 9 bays in length, 3 bays in width. Triangular cross-section logs are assembled in a grid pattern. Composed of three rooms: North, Middle, and South, with a floor height of about 2.7m. The North storehouse mainly housed items related to the Imperial family, while the South storehouse housed ritual items for Todai-ji. Currently owned by the state and managed by the Imperial Household Agency as a National Treasure.

Correct Combination | Shosoin Shoso - Nara period - Raised-floor style - North/South storehouses are Azekura-zukuri - Middle storehouse is Itakura-zukuri - Yosemune-zukuri/Honkawara-buki - Empress Komyo

Common Pitfalls | (1) The entire building is Azekura-zukuri (2) The middle storehouse is also Azekura-zukuri (3) Kirizuma-zukuri (gabled roof) and Hiwadabuki (cypress bark roof) (4) Built in the Heian period (5) Emperor Shomu dedicated his own cherished items (6) Humidity was automatically adjusted solely by the expansion and contraction of the logs

Key to Spotting Errors | Distinguish by 'Both ends are Azekura, the middle is Itakura.' It was Empress Komyo who dedicated the items after the Emperor's passing, not Emperor Shomu himself. The roof is Yosemune-zukuri, not Kirizuma-zukuri. Treasure preservation is a combined effect of the raised floor, thick timber, storage boxes, and strict management; 'logs opening and closing to adjust humidity' is a simplified explanation.