What is Japanese Architecture?: A Survey of Traditional Japanese Architecture

Traditional Japanese architecture-whether Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines residences castles or teahouses-has become increasingly familiar around the world. Through the media of motion pictures art books T.V. documentaries and dramas such as Shogun as well as through personal experience more and more people have gained an acquaintance and appreciation of the architecture of premodern Japan. Some may even be able to name or recognize the oldest and the largest wooden structures in existence which are to be found in Japan at Horyuji and Todaiji respectively. Yet often this knowledge is still rudimentary. Confusion abounds as to what distinguishes Japanese architecture from Chinese or Korean or even Southeast Asian not to mention what sets off a Buddhist temple from a Shinto shrine or say a residence of the tenth century from one of the eighteenth. Until now there has been no recourse for those seeking through a single book to increase their appreciation of the whole range of tradition