Japanese Architecture history

00:20:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjZsiMJI1Is

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the rich heritage and distinctive features of traditional Japanese wooden architecture. It begins with notable sites like the Itsukushima Shrine, known for its stilt-supported structure and use of Japanese Cyprus. The narrative proceeds to explore iconic castles such as Himi Castle, recognized for its robust design and defensive construction, and the Tosho shrine, celebrated for its elaborate carvings and ornate gates. Further, the video examines ancient constructions like the Hora G Temple, the world's oldest wooden building, and the Boto in Temple, which exemplifies the Shinden-Zukuri architectural style. It highlights the development from open, large room spaces to the partitioned arrangements inspired by palace styles. The video also delves into Japan’s innovative uses of wood and their influence on modern architecture. Techniques like crafting Fusuma sliding partitions, tatami mats, and Shoji panels are discussed, showcasing how traditional methods have been maintained and adapted. The durability and aesthetic value in combining traditional styles with modern construction practices are emphasized, ensuring that Japanese architectural principles continue to influence contemporary design.

Takeaways

  • 🏯 Itsukushima Shrine exemplifies traditional Japanese architecture with its stilt-supported structures.
  • 🏰 Himi Castle is renowned for its defensive and aesthetic wooden construction.
  • 🛖 The Tosho shrine is a masterpiece of Oribe style, rich in carvings.
  • ⛩ The Hora G Temple is the oldest wooden building globally, from the 7th century.
  • 🏡 The Boto in Temple showcases Shinden-Zukuri, with large open interior spaces.
  • 📜 Traditional methods like interlocking timbers are maintained even today.
  • 🔨 Japanese gardens are integral to traditional architectural practices.
  • 🚪 Fusuma sliding partitions are crafted with precision in traditional styles.
  • 🖼 Shoji panels are essential for ambient light within rooms.
  • 🌳 Modern architecture in Japan fuses traditional elements with contemporary design.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    An island floats in the calm waters of Japan's Seto Inland Sea, hosting the historical Itsukushima Shrine. Established towards the end of the 6th century, the shrine as seen today was constructed in the 12th century by the then-ruler. This architectural masterpiece is made on stilts, reminiscent of the Imperial Palace style, characterized by gently sloping roofs thatched with Japanese Cypress bark. The shrine complex has over 20 buildings with the main hall and east and west galleries recognized as National Treasures. Similarly, Himeji Castle, built 400 years ago, exemplifies wooden architecture with its seven-story citadel, thick white plastered wooden walls, and intricate interlocking beams for robust support. The castle design served as a model for future generations, with architectural elements like massive pillars and beams providing stability.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Toshogu Shrine, built 380 years ago amidst Japan's central island cedar forests, showcases the fusion of shrine and temple architecture. The Yomeimon gate, 11 meters high adorned with intricate carvings, stands as a National Treasure. The shrine is richly decorated, with carved walls and ceilings painting a luxurious picture, following the shoin-zukuri style which influences modern Japanese architecture. The development of Japan's wooden architecture began with ancient temples and noble residences. Horuji Temple, the oldest wooden building (7th century), features a complex timber interlocking design, influenced by Chinese architecture. Meanwhile, Byodoin Temple, 950 years old, showcases the shinden-zukuri or palace style with interconnected minimum structures via covered corridors, typical of ancient Japan before internal partitions were popularized in the 15th century.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:20:00

    Modern Japanese architecture retains elements of tradition seen in buildings like the Katsura Imperial Villa. Built 380 years ago, the villa blends nature with architecture using methods such as wooden shutters and interconnected corridors. Traditional features like tatami (woven rush) mats and fusuma (sliding partitions) are crafted with exceptional skill, combining historical techniques with modern technology. The shoin style, with its emphasis on dividing spaces using sliding screens, is still influential. Despite the rise in steel and concrete skyscrapers, traditional Japanese architecture endures within Japanese modern living spaces. Dedicated craftsmen preserve the cultural heritage by continuing to apply ancient techniques in woodwork, even as they incorporate technological advancements, ensuring the essence of Japan’s traditional architectural philosophy remains alive.

Mind Map

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What are some famous examples of Japanese wooden architecture?

    Famous examples include the Itsukushima Shrine, Himi Castle, and the Tosho shrine, each showcasing unique architectural styles and historical significance.

  • How has Japanese wooden architecture influenced modern buildings?

    Japanese architecture has influenced modern buildings through traditional elements like tatami mats and sliding partitions, maintaining a balance between tradition and contemporary design.

  • What distinguishes the Shinden-Zukuri architectural style?

    Shinden-Zukuri is characterized by open interiors with partitions for temporary rooms, showcasing large spaces that reflect palace-style influences.

  • How is a Fusuma sliding partition constructed?

    Fusuma partitions involve layers of Japanese paper, carefully glued to wooden frames, often with decorative elements applied by skilled craftsmen.

  • What role do Japanese gardens play in architecture?

    Japanese gardens enhance the harmony and beauty of traditional buildings, often designed to reflect natural landscapes.

  • Which is the world's oldest wooden building?

    The Hora G Temple in Nara, Japan, is the world's oldest wooden building, built in the 7th century.

  • How do modern Japanese homes incorporate traditional elements?

    Many modern Japanese homes include rooms with tatami mats and Shoji panels, blending traditional aesthetics with modern functionality.

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  • 00:00:21
    oh
  • 00:00:43
    an island floats in the calm Waters of
  • 00:00:45
    the settle Inland sea in the western
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    part of Japan on its Shore is the ituk
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    kushima shrine a fine example of
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    traditional Japanese religious
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    architecture
  • 00:01:02
    history tells us that the shrine was
  • 00:01:04
    founded towards the end of the 6th
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    Century the present day Shrine dates to
  • 00:01:08
    the beginning of the 12th century when
  • 00:01:10
    the ruler of the time built it as we see
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    it today it's constructed on platform
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    supported by stilts a reflection of the
  • 00:01:18
    Imperial Palace culture which was in
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    fashion at the
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    time the gently sloping roofs are
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    thatched with the bark of the Japanese
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    Cyprus known as the sun tree traditional
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    Japanese architecture noted for its
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    extensive use of wood has created an
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    elegant art form which is based on
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    various combinations of interlocking
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    Timbers the beauty of the wooden
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    structure that supports the roof is one
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    of the characteristics of traditional
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    Japanese buildings
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    the itsukushima shrine consists of more
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    than 20 separate buildings of these the
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    main hall and the East and West
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    galleries have all been declared
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    National
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    Treasures in many regions of Japan there
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    still exist castles built in medieval
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    times when warriors were fighting for
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    control of the country one of them is
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    Himi Castle famous for its outstandingly
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    beautiful Construction the central
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    Citadel is 7 stories high with its top
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    46 m above the foundations of the stone
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    walls thei Castle was built 400 years
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    ago and its construction took 8 years to
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    complete although made of wood the walls
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    are covered with a thick layer of white
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    Plaster to defend the castle from enemy
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    attack as well as
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    fire the most important part of the
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    castle is the central Citadel with its
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    tiled roof
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    here too a beautiful wooden structure
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    can be seen under the
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    eaves inside the central Citadel massive
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    wooden pillars and beams interlock with
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    each other to provide support for the
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    tall structure the staircase windows and
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    shutters are also all made of
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    wood when the shutters are closed it
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    becomes very dark inside this was to
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    confuse any hostile
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    Intruders this is the main wooden pillar
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    that supports the entire building it's
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    by far the thickest single piece of
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    Timber in the castle and interlocks with
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    overhead
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    joist the strong design and structure of
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    castles like this one served as models
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    for succeeding generations of builders
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    in the middle of Japan's main island is
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    the tosho shrine surrounded by a dense
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    Cedar Forest the toshogu shrine was
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    built 380 years ago and it's a fine
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    example of an architectural Fusion of
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    shrine and
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    Temple the main entrance to the compound
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    is through the very ornate yon or Yom
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    gate the gate is 11 M high and decorated
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    with more than 500 carvings
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    the Abundant decorations painted in red
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    green blue black white and gold make the
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    gate an extremely colorful
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    structure because of its incredible
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    ornamentation the Yon is considered to
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    be the culmination of the art of its
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    time and the structure has been
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    designated a National Treasure
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    the delightful carvings which Adorn the
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    buildings in the shrine's precinct are
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    in total harmony with the
  • 00:05:12
    surroundings the main hall itself is
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    almost totally covered with carved
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    decorations the paintings on the ceiling
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    give a Sumptuous feeling to the entire
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    building the interior of the main hall
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    follows the so-called showing style of
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    construction where a large space is
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    divided into many rooms modern Japanese
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    architecture derives from this style
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    magnificent carvings also decorate the
  • 00:05:41
    walls of the main
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    hall now let's take a look at the
  • 00:05:45
    history of Japanese wooden architecture
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    and examine how it
  • 00:05:50
    developed the use of Timber for
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    construction in Japan began with the
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    building of ancient temples and
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    Residences of the nobility this is the
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    horu G Temple in the city of Nara once
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    the capital of
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    Japan designated a national treasure the
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    Temple's golden Hall is the oldest
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    wooden building in the world it was
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    built in the 7th Century Construction of
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    the building is based on a complex
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    design of interlocking Timbers and the
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    hall has a tiled roof this style is
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    believed to have been introduced to
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    Japan from China
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    the tiles are embossed with reliefs
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    depicting the Chinese plants that were
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    the symbols of
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    Buddhism the boto in Temple is situated
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    on the outskirts of Kyo another ancient
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    capital of Japan it was built 950 years
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    ago and is considered to be the high
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    point of the architectural Elegance of
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    the period originally it was a villa for
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    a nobleman and his
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    family this is a typical example of the
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    ancient architectural style known as
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    shinden zukuri or Palace style
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    characterized by the use of platforms
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    the paneled walls create a vast interior
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    space which can be divided by screens to
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    create temporary rooms the buo in Temple
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    has survived the many wars which have
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    been fought in the surrounding area and
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    we see it today exactly as it was when
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    originally
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    built the characteristic feature of
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    Palace style is that rooms such as
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    reception rooms bedrooms and the dining
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    hall are located in separate buildings
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    they are connected to the main hall by
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    covered
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    corridors by medieval times around the
  • 00:07:59
    beginning of the 15th century the
  • 00:08:01
    Japanese began to use partitions to
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    create several permanent rooms inside a
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    building this building was constructed
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    about 400 years ago in Kyoto the elegant
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    lines of the architecture deserve
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    admiration and it's considered to be a
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    masterpiece of the time it's been
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    designated a national treasure the
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    advantage of building with wood is that
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    different external appearances can be
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    created simply by changing the method of
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    interlocking the tempers this building
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    located in the midst of beautiful
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    Gardens demonstrates many of the
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    features that a traditional Japanese
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    wooden building should
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    have a large study is located at the
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    center of the building and this
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    Arrangement is known as Shen style the
  • 00:08:51
    style was developed from the ancient
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    Palace style of construction and by this
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    time the interior of the building was
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    divided into rooms the architect tal
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    characteristics include painted sliding
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    screens called fusuma and Shoji which
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    led light into the room there's also an
  • 00:09:07
    alve a sort of small room set at a
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    slightly higher level the floors are
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    covered with tatami mats a feature
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    unique to Japanese
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    hes the katsura Imperial Villa was built
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    380 years ago as a Suburban residence
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    for the Imperial family this building is
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    also in shoen style and the brilliant
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    white Shi that separate it from the
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    outer World create a beautiful contrast
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    to the green of the
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    garden outside the Shi are wooden
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    shutters which stop driving rain from
  • 00:09:45
    penetrating the
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    rooms just inside the shoi partitions is
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    a wooden floored corridor
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    when the sliding partitions are opened
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    they reveal a panoramic view through to
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    the Garden the garden plays an important
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    part in the Shen style of
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    construction a Japanese garden is laid
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    out so that it reflects the atmosphere
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    of the countryside it exists
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    independently of the building and yet it
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    enhances the image of the whole area
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    including the
  • 00:10:24
    building so how have the features of
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    traditional Japanese architecture been
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    implemented in modern building buildings
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    this interlocking wooden structure under
  • 00:10:32
    the eaves is just one beautiful reminder
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    of the
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    past the floors are covered with tatami
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    mats and the rooms are partitioned by
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    the sliding screens known as fuma the
  • 00:10:49
    main pillar that supports the entire
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    structure of the house has become
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    thicker this one measures about 30 cm
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    along each side
  • 00:11:04
    there are Shoji which let in light and
  • 00:11:06
    fusuma sliding partitions this is the
  • 00:11:08
    traditional Shin style of construction
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    and it's still used
  • 00:11:12
    today the reception room has a tokonoma
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    or Al Cove which is set at a slightly
  • 00:11:17
    higher level than the rest of the
  • 00:11:24
    room the size of Tatam mats varies with
  • 00:11:28
    the region on average they measure 180
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    CMM by 90
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    CM the tatami mat base is made from
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    compressed
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    straw the top of this base is covered
  • 00:11:44
    with a mat of woven rushes The woven
  • 00:11:47
    Rush mat is fastened in place with long
  • 00:11:50
    metal skewers
  • 00:12:06
    once the length of the mat has been
  • 00:12:07
    determined the Craftsman then works on
  • 00:12:10
    the
  • 00:12:13
    width once the mat has been made to size
  • 00:12:16
    the Surplus rushes are trimmed off
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    the woven Rush mat is then sewn to the
  • 00:12:31
    straw
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    base the thread is made of hemp and is
  • 00:12:47
    thick and strong this Craftsman is
  • 00:12:50
    sewing the mat the traditional way and
  • 00:12:52
    his skills have been perfected after
  • 00:12:54
    years of experience
  • 00:13:10
    the compressed straw base is quite dense
  • 00:13:13
    and it's not so easy to se by hand
  • 00:13:30
    when the woven Rush mat has been sewn to
  • 00:13:32
    the base the side of the Tatam mat is
  • 00:13:35
    covered with a strip of fabric this too
  • 00:13:38
    is sewn to the
  • 00:13:47
    base in the past all Tatamy mats were
  • 00:13:50
    sewn by hand today however most
  • 00:13:53
    production is done by machine
  • 00:14:02
    it takes more than half an hour to sew a
  • 00:14:04
    mat by hand a machine does the same job
  • 00:14:07
    in a few
  • 00:14:21
    minutes there are two types of machine
  • 00:14:24
    used for sewing Tatamy mats one machine
  • 00:14:26
    sews lengthways and the other does the
  • 00:14:28
    end
  • 00:14:38
    the size of a Japanese room is
  • 00:14:40
    traditionally measured by the number of
  • 00:14:42
    Tatamy mats it
  • 00:14:47
    contains let's see how a fusuma sliding
  • 00:14:50
    partition is
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    made first of all the paper for the
  • 00:14:55
    underlining is prepared
  • 00:15:01
    the Craftsman uses a weak solution of
  • 00:15:03
    glue to prepare the underlining for
  • 00:15:05
    cutting Japanese paper is used for the
  • 00:15:10
    underlining the paper absorbs the
  • 00:15:12
    moisture from the blue and after it's
  • 00:15:15
    been scored it can be gently pulled
  • 00:15:27
    apart the GL is carefully applied to the
  • 00:15:30
    section of paper that will be stuck to
  • 00:15:32
    the wooden
  • 00:15:37
    frame the sheet of prepared paper is
  • 00:15:40
    then brushed onto the
  • 00:15:45
    frame it takes great skill to apply the
  • 00:15:48
    glue correctly as both the glue and the
  • 00:15:50
    way the underlining is applied will
  • 00:15:52
    affect the final appearance of the top
  • 00:15:54
    layer of paper
  • 00:16:11
    now it's time for the top layer of paper
  • 00:16:13
    to be applied and for this a much
  • 00:16:15
    thicker glue is used the glue is spread
  • 00:16:18
    all over the sheet of paper so that it
  • 00:16:20
    will strengthen the underlining and also
  • 00:16:22
    Hold the top layer down evenly
  • 00:16:45
    the top layer is made from one sheet of
  • 00:16:47
    paper if it's just slightly out of
  • 00:16:50
    alignment the whole panel will be
  • 00:16:52
    affected and look OD
  • 00:17:08
    the paper is carefully brushed onto the
  • 00:17:10
    underlining and any air bubbles worked
  • 00:17:13
    out so as Not to cause an uneven
  • 00:17:26
    surface when the paper is in place a
  • 00:17:29
    hole is cut for the handle this enables
  • 00:17:32
    the sliding screen to be opened and
  • 00:17:34
    closed
  • 00:17:39
    easily nowadays printed Japanese paper
  • 00:17:42
    is used to make fusuma sliding
  • 00:17:44
    partitions in the past it was quite
  • 00:17:46
    common to decorate the panels by
  • 00:17:48
    painting and some examples of fuma panel
  • 00:17:51
    paintings have been designated National
  • 00:17:57
    Treasures now let's see how a shoi panel
  • 00:17:59
    is
  • 00:18:02
    made a shoi panel is made from a wooden
  • 00:18:05
    frame covered with white Japanese paper
  • 00:18:08
    the glue is applied only to the wooden
  • 00:18:11
    frame the Craftsman carefully attaches
  • 00:18:14
    the sheet of paper to the frame where it
  • 00:18:16
    absorbs the moisture from the glue once
  • 00:18:19
    the paper dries the surface of the shoi
  • 00:18:21
    becomes as tight as a
  • 00:18:25
    drum the tradition of building houses
  • 00:18:28
    with wooden material survives in today's
  • 00:18:30
    Japan the old idea of supporting pillars
  • 00:18:33
    and interlocking Timbers is evident in
  • 00:18:35
    the construction of this modern
  • 00:18:47
    resident the thick joist Bears all the
  • 00:18:50
    load of the upper structure
  • 00:19:02
    various specialist joints are used to
  • 00:19:04
    interlock the Timbers wood can be fixed
  • 00:19:07
    more strongly this traditional way than
  • 00:19:09
    by using nails or
  • 00:19:25
    screws recently the construction of tall
  • 00:19:28
    build buildings using steel and concrete
  • 00:19:30
    has been on the increase in Japan the
  • 00:19:33
    Apartments built inside these modern
  • 00:19:35
    buildings usually have rooms made to a
  • 00:19:37
    western design but it's still very
  • 00:19:40
    common to have at least one room built
  • 00:19:42
    in a traditional Japanese
  • 00:19:47
    style so it seems the concept of
  • 00:19:49
    traditional Japanese architecture lives
  • 00:19:51
    on even in Mighty modern tower blocks
  • 00:19:55
    made of concrete steel and glass
Tags
  • Japanese architecture
  • Itsukushima Shrine
  • wooden structures
  • Himi Castle
  • Tosho shrine
  • traditional techniques
  • Fusuma partitions
  • tatami mats
  • modern adaptation
  • interlocking joints