2. Geographical
Geographical
Japan, with its principal
island, Nippon, and the
long string of attendant
isles to north and south,
lies off the east coast of
China, with the Pacific
Ocean to the east and
the Sea of Japan on the
west.
5. both are island empires well
situated for commerce, as they
both lie opposite populous
continents ;
Geographical
Geographical
6. both are at the head of great ocean water-
ways, the one of the Pacific, the other of
the Atlantic, and both are warmed by
ocean currents producing equable
temperatures.
Geographical
Geographical
7. Geological
Geological
The prevalence of earthquakes
has favored timber construction,
and the Japanese exhibit scientific
ingenuity in the framing together
of the various parts.
the stiffness of the timber joints is
important in changing the magnitude of
the overall displacement of the
building.
13. Stone
in Japan is unstratified, hence it is frequently used in
polygonal blocks,
particularly for the lower part of walls on which is
erected the upper timber construction. There are:
Geological
Geological
18. Climatic
Climatic
The island climate is made
equable by ocean currents and
by the prevalence of sea
breezes. Houses, where
possible, face the south, and
deeply projecting eaves form a
protection against the summer
sun, and high courtyard walls
against the winter wind.
19. Climatic
Climatic
In summer the movable casement
windows and partitions, which
form the house fronts and offer
little resistance to the penetration
of heat, are removed, and so leave
the houses entirely open to the
breezes.
22. Religious
Religious
Hongu 本宮 (Main Shrine)
Hongu 本宮 (Main Shrine)
※kami (the Japanese word for Shinto deities or sacred beings)
This style of shrine
architecture developed
in Edo period.
Both the inside and the
outside of the shrine are
decorated with carving
and painting. the entire
shrine is designated a
nationally important
cultural property as it
typifies Edo style
architecture.
Samples:
23. Religious
Religious
Wakamiya Shrine 若宮
Wakamiya Shrine 若宮
This shrine is
also in the same
architectural style
as the Honden.
This shrine is
also designated a
nationally
important cultural
property
24. Religious
Religious
Shirahata Shrine 白旗神社
Shirahata Shrine 白旗神社
Two rituals are held
for this shrine
besides the annual
ritual. Both are to
praise Minamoto
Sanetomo (源 実朝,
1192-1219),
Yoritomo’s son. He
was assassinated by
Sanetomo’s nephew
Kugyo (公暁).
25. Religious
Religious
Maruyama Inari Shrine 丸山稲荷社
Maruyama Inari Shrine 丸山稲荷社
Maruyama Inari Shrine had
been located in the place
where Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu and worshipped
by local residents. they held
rites known as Hatsuuma-sai
and Hitaki-sai which were
accompanied by local
religious dances. The shrine
building is Muromachi style
architecture, and designated
as a nationally important
cultural property.
26. Religious
Religious
Takeuchi Shrine 武内社
Takeuchi Shrine 武内社
Takeuchi Sukune is
famous for his longevity
and loyalty. People still
revere this shrine and
pray for their own good
health and longevity
today. The shrine’s
building is designated as
a nationally important
cultural property.
27. Religious
Religious
Imamiya Shrine 今宮
Imamiya Shrine 今宮
This shrine was built
to commemorate the
three emperors who
had met unfortunate
relating to the so-
called Jokyu
disturbance.
28. Religious
Religious
Soreisha 祖霊社 (Ancestral Shrine)
Soreisha 祖霊社 (Ancestral Shrine)
Ancestral spirits of
parishioners and
worshipers of
Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu are
enshrined here.
29. Religious
Religious
Yui Wakamiya Shrine 由比若宮
Yui Wakamiya Shrine 由比若宮
The kami enshrined
here are the same as
those in the Main
Sanctuary. Before
Yoritomo built
Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu on the
present site, this
shrine was the
original Hachiman in
Kamakura.
30. Religious
Religious
Hata-age Benzaiten Shrine 旗上弁財天社
Hata-age Benzaiten Shrine 旗上弁財天社
This shrine was
built on the isle on
the east side of the
Genpei ponds.
People offer a
prayer with vow to
the white flag with
two black lines
which was the
symbol of
Yoritomo’s army.
31. Religious
Religious
Dankazura 段葛
Dankazura 段葛
This is the approach to
the shrine, originally
constructed on behalf
of Yoritomo's wife,
Masako, to pray for
safe birth. In spring,
full-blown cherry trees
and azaleas make a
‘flower tunnel’ to the
shrine.
32. Religious
Religious
The Great Ginkgo大銀杏
The Great Ginkgo大銀杏 This great ginkgo tree
(about 1,000 years old) fell
down on March 10 2010.
This is the place where the
3rd Minamoto shogun,
Sanetomo was assassinated
by his nephew, Kugyo, who
had hidden himself behind
the tree. Thus, it is also
called Hidden Ginkgo.
Presently, many sprouts are
visible emerging from the
stump; and they are
growing vigorously.
33. Religious
Religious
Shimohaiden/ Maiden 下拝殿/舞殿 (Lower Worship Hall)
Shimohaiden/ Maiden 下拝殿/舞殿 (Lower Worship Hall)
Here dedicatory dances
and music are
performed.
Throughout the year,
various rituals are
performed here. This is a
building of symbolic
importance since it was
here that the legendary
dancer, Shizuka,
performed her dedicatory
dances.
34. Religious
Religious
Shrines are mainly places where people
can pray. Sometimes ceremonies such as
wedding and milestone events for
children are held at them. They are
visited mostly on certain holidays or by
people who want something.
Purpose of Shinto Shrine
39. Religious
Religious
In early times the priests contributed
to the general development of the
country, even in the matter of road-
making and bridge-building, as in
Mediaeval Europe.
40. Construction
Construction
Post-and-lintel structures provide traditional
Japanese buildings with strength over a wide area.
Instead of the laying cornerstone to dedicate a new
building, Japanese builders plant a decorative and
symbolic ridgepole in an important ceremony that
gives thanks to the gods and asks them to make the
building durable and safe.
41. Construction
Construction
A traditional Japanese interior features a
multitude of partially-screened, geometrically-
arranged rooms with sliding doors that can be
opened to create large spaces or closed to create
private rooms. The translucent paper walls
between the rooms allowed people to see
shadows in the next rooms but not clearly see
what was making the shadows.
44. Construction
Construction
The most expressive element of Japanese
architecture is the roof, which tends to hang
over the building like a shaggy wig and
stress its smallness and horizontal plane.
45. Construction
Construction
The roof in a traditional
Japanese structure is made of
heavy timbers placed at right
angles, and the sheer weight of
it is what keeps structure in
place.
47. Construction
Construction
Trusses were rarely used until Japanese
architecture was Westernized and even today
Japanese engineers say that the heavier the
roof is the more stable the structure is because
Japanese buildings rest on columns at ground
level instead of deep foundation so they can
sway and bounce in an earthquake rather than
buckle and collapse.
51. Construction
Construction
Japanese and Asian carpenters tend to saw
and plane towards the body rather than away
from it as Western carpenters do and and
sometimes maneuver around the outside of
tall structures on poles rather than Western-
style scaffolding.
52.
53. Construction
Construction
Japanese carpenters and architects use
their skills not decorate wood surface
but rather to maximize the effect of
unadorned wooden surfaces. Variations
are made with different woods, grains
and finishes.
54. Construction
Construction
In Japanese lumberyards, pieces of
wood are not piled in big stacks as they
are in Western lumberyard, rather they
are organized by color and grain. Cut
logs are sometimes tied together in the
positions they occupied on the living
tree.
56. Gojunoto Pagoda
Gojunoto is an earthquake-
resistant pagoda erected in 1407
in Nara. The five stories
oscillate in opposed phases
when there are tremors, which
keeps the structure from
breaking apart. There is no
evidence of the structure ever
collapsing.
57. Construction
Construction
The Yasaka Pagoda in Kyoto
has survived more than five
centuries of earthquakes.
During a tremor the entire
building sways as each story
moves independent around a
central anchoring pillar.
Scientists are now studying
the pagoda for clues on
making modern buildings
more earthquake-resistant.
58. Construction
Construction
Japanese Architecture and Weather:
Traditional houses were built to deal with summer heat
more than winter cold under the understanding that
residents could put on layers of clothing in the winter. They
were built of light materials—wood, bamboo, straw and
paper—which provide terrible insulation but allow breezes
to enter, air to circulate and heat to escape. In the old days
some houses were so cold in winter that children went
outside to play to get warm.
60. Construction
Construction
The Shosoin Temple, for example, the
imperial treasure repository at Nara,
has a roof made up of triangular
timbers that expand during wet weather
to protect the interior from rain and
shrink during hot, dry weather to allow
ventilation.
62. Construction
Construction
Houses and deep projecting roofs to offer
protection in heavy monsoon rains. During
the hot and humid Japanese summer, the
Japanese like to keep cool by creating the
illusion of coolness with the sound of
running water and wind chimes that sound
during the slightest breeze.
64. Features
Features
Japanese Buddhist Temples
Buddhist temples are generally clusters of buildings,
whose number and size depends on the size of the
temple.
Large temples have several halls, where people can
pray, and living quarters for monks.
Smaller ones have a single hall, a house for a resident
monk and a bell. Some have cemeteries.
65. Features
Features
The architecture of Buddhist temples is
influenced by the architecture of Korea and
China, the two countries that introduced
Buddhism to Japan.
66. Features
Features
Early Japanese Buddhist temples consisted of
pagodas, which were modeled after Chinese-style
pagodas, which in turn were modeled after Indian
stupas. Over time these pagodas became one
building in a large temple complex with many
buildings.
67. Features
Features
A Japanese pagoda is a square tower that is
usually part of a monastery used by Buddhist
monks. It served as a temple and housed sacred
relics. Each of its levels, ascending, is slightly
smaller than the last, resulting in a pyramid-like
structure that is topped by a spire.
68. Features
Features
Construction:
Japanese pagodas are typically constructed from wood
with interlocking beams and posts and a central column.
The buildings are tall and slender and consist of five
stories.
The roofs boast wide overhangs, with clay tiles. Pagodas
are extremely sturdy and are designed to absorb the
movements of the earth, making them resistant to
earthquakes and typhoons.
69. Features
Features
Symbolisim:
The Square shape symbolizes the Earth.
The Center column is considered the "axle of the world"
and the Spire on top of the structure represents Buddha as
master of the universe. Each level represents one of the
five elements: wind, water, earth, fire and sky.
70. Japanese pagodas developed from Chinese models. Japanese
pagodas are made of wood. Chinese pagodas are made of wood,
masonry, glazed tile, or porcelain. They are decorated with ivory,
bone, and stonwork. They usually have eight sides, while Japanese
have four sides. Chinese and Japanese pagodas always have an
uneven number of stories. The ground story of Japanese pagodas
may contain shrines and images. I hope that this has been a help to
you.
Features
Features
77. Features
Features
The Main Hall (KONDO or HONDO) is usually found at
the center of the temple grounds.
Inside are images of the Buddha, other Buddhist images,
an altar or altars with various objects and space for
monks and worshipers. The main hall is sometimes
connected to a lecture hall.
78. Features
Features
A monk at Mtizuzoin Temple in Tokyo told the Daily
Yomiuri,“When people think of temple, they tend to think
of it as a shadowy, scary kind of place.
This is because temples have long been regarded as being
associated with death. This stems from the fact that many
people only visit the temple for Buddhist rites” for the
dead.
80. Features
Features
The Sutra Depository (Kyozo), a place where
Buddhist scripture are kept, and often shaped like a log
cabin on stilts; living, sleeping, and eating areas for
monks and offices
81. Features
Features
Large temples often have special halls, where treasures are
kept and displayed. Some have a pagoda. Many temples
have small shops that sell religious items.
