Shinden style copied the example of the Buddhist temple worship halls. It was copied from the T’ang dynasty (China) bisymmetrical structures.

The halls are connected to one another by roofed passageways. The interior of the shinden style was also like worship halls which were open except for round pillars. The center of the main hall was called the moya and was surrounded by two sets of pillars. The interior space was partitioned through the clever use of folding screens, byobu, reed curtains, sudare and curtain stands, kicho. The flooring was wooden planks. There were cushions and rush mats used for sitting and sleeping. There was a small room called the nurigome used for sleeping or storage. This style was used by the nobility and high ranking samurai through the mid 15th century.

When you see paintings of Tale of Genji you are seeing the shinden-zukuri style of architecture. This style afforded little protection from the cold winters which accounted for the many layers of clothing which was the style of the time. Currently no older examples of this style exist, the closest that can be found is the 19th century version of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto.

The next style to emerge is called the shoin-zukuri style.

The shoin was originally the name given to the abbot’s quarters in a Zen temple. Shoin means library or study. The oldest extant example of shoin- zukuri is the Dojinsai room in the Togudo at Ginkakuji (Golden Pavilion). This small room was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1486.

source : www.geocities.com/nobukaze23/ie.htm