ARCHITECTURE

Japanese architecture has a different history than the

architecture of the west in how it has been divided up, the materials that were available and of course the influences which changed how architecture looked over the centuries. The architecture in Japan has long been heavily influenced by China, but it has also gone its separate ways in some respects, such as the availability of materials and the function of the buildings.

 The distinct look of Japanese architecture began early-

about 57 BC, give or take. Prior to this point, homes in Japan were made from wood with dirt floors and very little differentiating them from similar homes a thousand miles away. Architects at this point and up until around 660 AD were influenced by the Koreans; buildings were made from stone and timber and though most of these early structures are long gone, they live on in manuscripts and paintings

 Because the Japanese islands are of volcanic origin,

structures of wooden timber have traditionally been the basis for architecture; there is little stone for building or carving in Japan. The architecture of wood was fully developed during the fifth century. Styles during this time period became more intricate. Architects added decorative gables, saddle roofs, and other details to their designs. The most important buildings though were the shrines which were built in order to showcase the very best that the Japanese architects had to offer. Although they were often torn down and rebuilt every two decades or so, the rebuild was completely faithful to the original design so that they would not change too much over time. These were made of wood and often had beautiful gardens to accompany them. The style of these shrines also influenced the building style of domestic and even modern architecture with the tower design and the building materials.

Asuka Period Yamato clans gradually take over Prince Shotoku establishes Confucianist constitution writing catches on Buddhism introduced national government and code of laws

Nara Period the first real imperial court, in Nara major historical books first narrative scrolls

The Shaka Triad from Horyuji, 623 A.D., gilt-bronze

Horyuji

Shitennoji

Bodhisattva's Sacrifice, from the Tamamushi shrine

Kannon, from the Horyuji murals

E-ingakyo

Hein Period The period where the Chinese influence began as one of the premier architects of the time traveled and learned of design in China and brought his ideas back to Japan. Japan's idea of itself resides here in major ways courtly manners first novels - including The Tale Of Genji kana writing invented Buddhist sculpture, painting and scrolls paradise gardens ended in civil war
Todaiji

Todaiji Buddha

Byodoin

Kamakura period first shogunate - start of samurai dominance daimyo ruling their areas Zen introduced in 1191 Zen painting great ancient pottery centres start Noh theatre begins Renga poetry ended with very brief restoration of imperial rule

Muromachi Period Zen gardens tea ceremony starts to take on established form flower arranging becomes an art form

Kinkakuji(Golden Pavillion)

Kinkakuji garden

Ginkaku-ji

Azuchi-Momoyama Period Japanese Zen architecture Castles began springing up in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (17th century). These were very different from the medieval castles of Europe though-they were built in the style of the shrines with the wooden powers and out cropping roofs.
Himeji Castle

Osaka Tower

Edo Period Development of *strolling gardens *Strolling gardens - designing gardens for people to walk around in, especially to circumnavigate by a defined route. Designers thought in terms of composing a series of scenes: they combined elements from all the earlier styles, but often added representations or symbols of famous or mythical places, creating something like a national tour in miniature

Shugaku-in

Joju-en

 As Japan drew into the

modern era, it had a surge of wooden materials because of the number of fires in the cities. After World War II, Japan quickly modernized with the introduction and influence of western architecture leading to some truly awe inspiring buildings of metal and concrete like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.