社殿(しゃでん)

しゃでん
noun
shrine building; main hall of a Shinto shrine
religionbuilding
1. shrine building; main hall of a Shinto shrine
The main building or buildings of a Shinto shrine where the deity is enshrined. Can refer to the main hall specifically or to the shrine buildings collectively.
社殿(しゃでん)に参拝(さんぱい)する。
To worship at the shrine building.
朱塗(しゅぬ)りの社殿(しゃでん)が美(うつく)しい。
The vermilion-painted shrine building is beautiful.
火災(かさい)で焼失(しょうしつ)した社殿(しゃでん)が、数年(すうねん)かけて再建(さいけん)された。
The shrine building that was destroyed by fire was rebuilt over several years.

A compound of 社(しゃ) (shrine) and 殿(でん) (hall, palace). Refers specifically to Shinto shrine architecture, not Buddhist temples.

Cultural note

Shinto shrine buildings typically include the 本殿(ほんでん) (main hall housing the deity), 拝殿(はいでん) (worship hall where visitors pray), and various auxiliary structures. 社殿(しゃでん) can refer to any of these or to the complex as a whole. Traditional shrine architecture features distinctive elements like 千木(ちぎ) (forked finials) and 鰹木(かつおぎ) (log-shaped ridge ornaments).

Common collocations

  • 社殿(しゃでん)を建(た)てる — to build a shrine hall
  • 社殿(しゃでん)を再建(さいけん)する — to rebuild a shrine hall
  • 社殿(しゃでん)の造営(ぞうえい) — construction of a shrine building
  • 朱塗(しゅぬ)りの社殿(しゃでん) — vermilion-painted shrine building

Related words

Related Words

Related: 本殿(ほんでん) (main hall of a shrine)
Related: 拝殿(はいでん) (worship hall)
Related: 仏殿(ぶつでん) (Buddhist temple hall)
Compare: 祭殿(さいでん) (ceremonial hall)
general
Added 2026.3.31 0:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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