Traditional Japanese Architecture: An Exploration of Elements and Forms

416 Pages·2012·24.02 MB·English

by  Mira Locher

Ryorijaya Uoshiro Restaurant, Mikuni, Fukui Prefecture.
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto.

Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
www.tuttlepublishing.com
Text copyright © 2010 Mira Locher Photographs © Ben Simmons and Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0606-2 (ebook)
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A Note on Language Japanese names in the text are written to follow the typical Japanese order of
family name followed by given name (the opposite of English). An exception is Kengo Kuma’s name,
which is in reverse order on the cover and introductory pages.
The Japanese words used in the text are written in roman script (romaji), based on phonetic pronunciation
using a modified Hepburn system. Consonants are pronounced similarly to English, with g always hard. A
macron is used to denote a long vowel sound, except for words such as Tokyo and Kyoto which have
become common in English. Vowels are pronounced as follows: a is ă as in father (ā denotes a lengthened
sound, also sometimes written as aa)
i is ē as in greet (ī denotes a lengthened sound, also sometimes written as ii)
u is ū as in boot
e is ĕ as in pet (also sometimes written as é)
o is ō as in mow (ō denotes a lengthened sound, also sometimes written as oo or ou) The Glossary
includes Japanese characters for each word— kanji ideographs originally from China and the two kana
syllabaries based on phonetics, hiragana (now used for Japanese words or parts of words for which there is
no kanji) and katakana (now used primarily for foreign words).
Japanese nouns can be either plural or singular.
Front endpaper Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto.
Back endpaper Jōmyōji Temple, Kamakura.
Raikyūji Temple, Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture.
Ryōanji Temple, Kyoto.
Contents

Foreword by Kengo Kuma 8
Preface 11
Context
PART 1
Environment and Culture 16
Chapter 1
The Evolution of Japanese Architecture 20
Chapter 2
The Role of Tradition 36
Chapter 3
Forms and Materials
PART 2
Basic Principles 46
Chapter 4
Regional Variations 54
Chapter 5
Tools and Techniques 62
Chapter 6
Materials 70
Chapter 7
Architecture
PART 3
Roofs 92
Chapter 8
Foundations 98
Chapter 9
Walls 104
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Floors 112
Ceilings 116
Chapter 12
Built-ins 120
Chapter 13
Furniture 128
Chapter 14
Decorative Objects 134
Chapter 15
Interior Ornamentation 138
Chapter 16
Exterior Ornamentation 142
Chapter 17
Gardens and Courtyards
PART 4
Shaping the Land 150
Chapter 18
Entrance Gates 156
Chapter 19
Garden Walls 162
Chapter 20
Fences 166
Chapter 21
Paths 170
Chapter 22
Bridges 174
Chapter 23
Gravel Courtyards 178
Chapter 24
Raked Gravel Beds and Mounds 180
Chapter 25
Stone Borders 184
Chapter 26
Rocks and Stones 186
Chapter 27
Plants 192
Chapter 28
Water 198
Chapter 29
Garden Objects 202
Chapter 30
Temporary and Seasonal Elements 208
Chapter 31
Endnotes 210
Glossary 213
Bibliography 218