Ancient Japanese Architecture
As a testament to the quality of ancient
Japanese Architecture, the oldest surviving wooden structures in the world are
located in Nara, Japan. Of the 41 buildings constructed during the Asuka
period (538-710 A.D.) the most well-known are the Kondo (Golden Hall) and
Goju-no-to (Five story Pagoda). These were constructed as a private temple
for the Prince Shotoku, a regent and politician in the Asuka period.
Another well known archaeological site from ancient Japan is the Todaiji in
Nara prefecture, Japan. The Todaiji was built to function as the
headquarters for regional temples built in surrounding provinces. The
Todaiji's main building is the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) and is the
largest wooden building in the world. Inside the Daibutsuden a 16.2m tall
Buddha is enshrined. The current statue of the Buddha was built during the
Edo period (1603-1868) and only a few fragments of the original remain.
Buddhist Pagoda's in ancient Japan all shared similar characteristics. The
wooden walls were thin and vertical. The structures had multiple stories
supported by columns made from cypress trees. Thatched roofs were common as
well as large doors and windows strategically placed for the best viewing of
external gardens or other natural scenery.
Although Buddhism teaches impermanence, Shinto places importance on purity
and youth. For this reason many Shinto shrines in Japan are rebuilt every 20
years, often at great expense, to keep them forever new and also forever
ancient in their original form. The Ise shrine in Mie, Japan was rebuilt in
1993 and is on its 61st iteration. It is scheduled to be rebuilt in 2013.
The ancient Japanese may not have had access to suitable stone for building,
but they were able to build long-lasting structures using wood. Although
many famous castles and other well known historical buildings were destroyed
by fire in Japan's history, there are many which are still standing today.
About the Author
Alton Trevino lives in Japan and enjoys writing about Japanese history and culture. Please visit the following link to read more about ancient Japan
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