Art Around The World
Architecture
RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE
When Japan was first introduced to Buddhism it gave the country a highly developed infrastructure, influenced by China and this brought about the use of complex wooden carpenting. Thus creating their unique and beautiful temples and shrines with China as their building guide. These temples uses wood as its main resources. Having its interior wall divider and support made out of wood loads and its exterior with thin plaster and woodwork. Its elegant and curved overhanging roof adds to the temples character and grace.
As time passed Zen buddhism was raised and merged with the Chinese architecture making the temples hall of worship into broad chancel with a flat ceiling filled with zen themed paintings. By the next century, the infrastructure focused more on sculptural adornment.
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​Centuries have passed and the buddhist architecture still remains, changing little by little and soon become a unique architecture of Japan. Nowadays, landscape setting is given attention to building temples especially those who are set up on a hillside or forestry.
DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE
Traditional domestic architecture in Japan is very refreshing and breathtaking as its infrastructures reflect upon nature making us feel as if we’re part of the environment. The landscape around the houses adds to its aesthetic and atmosphere.
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​In the Heian period, a specific housing for the nobles were built known as the ‘shinden-zukuri.’ It has the characteristics of long corridors that connects different parts of the houses and surrounded by landscape which is usually a zen garden. This type of architecture has been maintained up to this day.
These noble houses are built with interior wooden posts to support the roof. What’s even more interesting is that they have sliding doors instead of walls allowing them to customize the interior to different shapes and sizes. These sliding walls or doors are replaceable for the appropriate seasons or weathers. Their ‘master’ bedroom as we may call it, is usually given a tokonoma, which is adding a flower decoration and a few chosen arts showcased in the room. My favorite part about this house has to be the room for tea ceremonies, it somehow gives off a relaxing feeling.
CASTLES AND PALACES
The Shinsengumi, Shogunate and the Imperial forces, I am very much interested in the Edo period so forgive me. In the 16th centuries is where the ever beautiful castles and palaces of Japan started. It was built due to feudal warfare, making them build fortified castles that stood atop enormous stone blocks.
Moreover, in the Edo period, there stood an asymmetrical palace called the Nijo castle which is now a World Heritage Site. The Nijo castle has two rings called the Honmaru Palace and Ninomaru Palace. The latter palace was said to be built in a way for Tokugawa to show off its inner chambers thus making the Shogunate intimidating and powerful to Edo-period visitors. In these castles, Japanese can display their strong taste in landscaping.
