East Asian hip-and-gable roof


The East Asian hip-and-gable roof in Chinese, Irimoya in Japanese, Paljakjibung consists of a hip roof that slopes down on all four sides and integrates a gable on two opposing sides. It is usually constructed with two large sloping roof sections in the front and back respectively, while each of the two sides is usually constructed with a smaller roof section.
The style is thought to be Chinese in origin, and has spread across much of Asia. The original style and similar styles are found in the traditional architectures of India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Kalmykia. It also influenced the style of the bahay na bato of the Philippines.

Etymology

It is known as xiēshān in Chinese, in Japanese, and paljakjibung in Korean.

''Irimoya'' in Japan

Irimoya arrived from China to Japan in the 6th century. The style was originally used in the main and lecture halls of a Buddhist temple compound. It started to be used for the honden at shrines later, during the Japanese Middle Ages. Its gable is usually right above the moya, or core, while the hip covers the hisashi, a veranda-like aisle surrounding the core on one or more sides.
It is still in wide use in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan, and also in palaces, castles, and folk dwellings. In the last case, it is often called moya-zukuri.

''Kandyan roof'' of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, a style known as the Kandyan roof bears many similarities to the original East Asian hip-and-gable roof. The Kandyan roof is primarily used for religious, and historically, royal buildings. Its roots however lie in the traditions of the "Sri Lankan village".

Gallery