Shinden-zukuri

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The shinden-zukuri (jp:寝殿造 or 寝殿造り, shinden-style) were palatial or aristocratic mansions built in Heian-kyō (平安京, today's Kyoto) in the Heian period (784-1185), especially in 10th century Japan). Main characteristics of the shinden-zukuri are a special symmetry of the group of buildings and uneveloped space between them.

A mansion was usually set on a one chō (町) square (120 m ground). The main building, the shinden is on the central north-south axis and two subsidiary buildings, tai (対), were built to the right and left of the shinden, both running east-west. The tai and the shinden are connected by two corridors, called sukiwatadono (透渡殿) and watadono (渡殿). A chūmonrō (中門廊, central gate corridor) at the half way points of the two corridors, leads to a south courtyard, where many ceremonies were celebrated. Water runs from a stream (yarimizu 遣水) into a large pond to the south of the courtyard. The pond had islets and bridges.