52. Side View of "Butsuden"

The Sanctum is rather small in size, and in style shows the strong Chinese influence of the early days of the Muromachi period.

In prewar days several images were enshrined in the Sanctum, but unfortunately they were destroyed.

The Sanctum is in the innermost part of Sankei-en, and the visitor, who may be fatigued, is invited to rest for a while before returning.

53. Inside the Butsuden

Old Yanohara's House

54. House of Yanoharas

This farm house was originally built about 210 years ago by Sasuke Iwase, one of the richest men in Hida district, Gifu prefecture.  Destined to be sunk under water due to dam construction, this building was donated to the Sankei-en Garden by its owner "Akira Yanohara" and moved here in 1960.  The peculiar stucture that the right and left sides of this house are quite differently shaped is observed only in farm-houses of upperclasses. The roof shape belongs in category to the so called "Irimoyazukuri" and flame-shaped window, "Katomado" is also a very unique one.  Judging from these things we can see that this house was of high dignity in the locality.

This miscanthus-thached cottage is of the so-called "Gassho-zukuri" style, because its roof is constructed by stacking big logs (called sasu) as joining hands.

The pointed end of "the sasu" is put in the little hole of the sasu-receiver so that the weight of the roof is concentrated on these little points and the stability of the structure are always kept.  Furthermore, as the framework of the cottage is bound with straw ropes or neso (dried young tree) and neither nails nor cramps are used, it considerably bears strong wind.