Architecture of the Miedo
The Miedo resembles the house of a Heian period (794–1185) noble. It is encircled by a railed veranda, and the roof is shingled in Japanese cypress bark. The buildings of the Miedo are architecturally quite different from the main buildings of Tōji temple, because it was first used as a home. Overall, the Miedo exudes a sense of elegance and serenity.
The Miedo consists of three buildings: an inner hall, a middle hall, and an outer hall. The original halls burned down in 1379. The inner hall, the largest part of the Miedo, was rebuilt in 1380, and construction of the middle and outer halls was finished in 1390. The residence’s buildings are some of the oldest in the Tōji Temple complex. The Miedo was designated a National Treasure in 1958.