“shinden-zukuri: Japanese architectural style of mansion-estates constructed in the Heian peirod (794-1185). The form consisted of a shinden (central building) to which subsidiary structures are were connected by corridors. The shinden faced south on an open court, across which was a pond garden. The east and west tainoya or subsidiary living quarters, were attached by watadono (wide corridors) from which narrow corridors extended south, ending in small pavilions. This layout resulted in a U-shaped arrangement around the court. See also shoin-zukuri.”
Excerpted from: Stevens, Mark A., Ed. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Encyclopedia. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, 2000.
Mark's Text Terminal 