Upper-class residences of the Heian period were designed in the shinden style. The shinden was the main buildings,and to the east,and north of the shinden were independent buildings known as tainoya,which were connected to the shinden by rsised,boarded corridors. To our surprise, as yet there were no ceiling,so the roof was exposed. It would have involved a great deal of labour and expense to dispose of the dug-out earth outside the compound,so it was piled up in the center of the pond making an artificial islet,or at one side forming small hill. There were already "recycling"in Heian period.

To The Syoin Style