Mokoshi

---

title: "Mokoshi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["architecture-in-japan", "roofs", "traditional-east-asian-architecture"] description: "Decorative pent roof in Japanese architecture" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokoshi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Decorative pent roof in Japanese architecture ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Mokoshi_Moya_and_Hisashi.jpg" caption="hisashi]]''"] ::

In Japanese architecture mokoshi, literally "skirt storey" or "cuff storey", is a decorative pent roof surrounding a building below the true roof. Since it does not correspond to any internal division, the mokoshi gives the impression of there being more floors than there really are. It is usually a ken deep and is most commonly seen in Buddhist temples and pagodas (see for example the article tahōtō).{{Cite web | url = http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/m/mokoshi.htm | title = Mokoshi | publisher = JAANUS - Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System | access-date = 2009-11-21

Origin and purpose

The name derives from the fact that it surrounds and hides the main building like the cuff of a pair of pants. Its purpose was in fact to hide the thick sustaining pillars of the structure, making it look lighter and simpler. It has been used extensively by the Zen sects in various structures of its temple complexes.

Another name for a mokoshi is yuta, hence the name yuta-zukuri given to the style of a building featuring it. This name started being used during the Middle Ages, and stems from the idea that its presence offered protection from snow.

Significant examples

The three storied east pagoda of Yakushi-ji (a National Treasure, see gallery) seems to have six stories because of the presence of a mokoshi between each story.

The first of the kon-dō's (main hall, National Treasure, see gallery) two stories at Hōryū-ji has a mokoshi, which was added in the Nara period with extra posts. These were needed to hold up the original first roof, which extended more than four meters past the building. Hōryū-ji's is the oldest extant example of mokoshi.

The butsuden (main hall) of a Zen temple usually has a mokoshi, and therefore looks like a two-story building (see photo above and gallery), although in fact it is not.

Gallery

The following structures all have a mokoshi. File:Horyu-ji11s3200.jpg|Hōryū-ji's kon-dō File:Yakushiji Nara11s5bs4200.jpg|Yakushi-ji's three-storied east pagoda File:Myoshinji-M9719.jpg|Myōshin-ji's butsuden File:Toudaiji Daibituden.jpg|Tōdai-ji's Daibutsuden

Notes

References

1. [[Shogakukan]]'s [https://archive.today/20130218173059/http://100.yahoo.co.jp/detail/%E8%A3%B3%E9%9A%8E/ Nihon Daihyakkasho, ''Mokoshi''], accessed on November 27, 2009 (in Japanese)
2. Iwanami {{Nihongo. [[Kōjien]]. 広辞苑 Japanese dictionary, 6th Edition (2008), DVD version

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::