4c. JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE

History of Architecture 03

(Continuation)

Heian Period Japanese Architecture Continuation

The priest Kukai ( best known by his posthumous title Kobo Daishi), he introduced the Vajrayana Buddhism in 806.

Japanese Buddhist architecture also adopted the stupa in its Chinese form of pagoda.

Temples erected for this new sect were built in the mountain.

In the Fujiwara period, Pure Land Buddhism, which offered easy salvation through belief in AMIDA ( the Buddha of the Western Paradise).

Ho-o-do (Phoenix hall) is the exemplar of Fujiwara Amida halls.

It consists of a main rectangular structure flanked by two L-shaped wing corridors and a tail corridor, set at the edge of a large artificial pond. Inside, a single golden image of Amida (circa 1053) is installed on a high platform.

Ho-o-do (Phoenix hall) is the exemplar of Fujiwara Amida halls.

It consists of a main rectangular structure flanked by two L-shaped wing corridors and a tail corridor, set at the edge of a large artificial pond. Inside, a single golden image of Amida (circa 1053) is installed on a high platform.

Kamakura and Muromachi Period

Japanese Architecture Continuation

During this period, Japanese architecture made technological advances that somewhat diverged from and Chinese counterparts.

(Daibutsu-Style and Zen-Style) In response to native requirements such as earthquake resistance and shelter against heavy rainfall and the summer heat and sun, the master carpenters of this time responded with a unique type of architecture.

Unfortunately, the heavy reliance on wood as the primary building material has meant that fires destroyed many of the original structures

The original Kamakura structure was rebuilt shortly after the end of the Kamakura era exactly in the same Kamakura style and clearly illustrates the expertise of the Kamakura era builders. Shofuku-ji

Japanese political power was dominated by the armed Samurai, such as Seiwa Genji

Their simple and sturdy ideas affected the architecture style, and many samurai houses are a mixture of shinden-zukuri and turrets or trenches.

Remarkable event in Muromachi period, another major development of the period was the tea ceremony and the tea house in which it was held.

The purpose of the ceremony is to spend time with friends who enjoy the arts, to cleanse the mind of the concerns of daily life, and to receive a bowl of tea served in a gracious and tasteful manner.

Zen was the basic philosophy. Zen in Japan corresponds more or less to Ch'an in China (see CHINESE

BUDDHISM). Zen means meditation and the central doctrine of Zen is that an individual experience of enlightenment (satori) equivalent to that of the Buddha can be transmitted from master to disciple by meditation or by other means 'outside the scriptures'

The rustic style of the rural cottage was adopted for the tea house, emphasizing such natural materials as bark-covered logs and woven straw. In addition, a traditional Japanese style culture such as tatami, shji, and fusuma was stylized in Muromachi period.

In Japanese tradition a tea house can refer to a structure designed for holding Japanese tea ceremonies.

This structure and specifically the room in it where the tea ceremony takes place is called chashitsu. The architectural space called chashitsu was created for aesthetic and intellectual fulfillment.

In Japan a tea house can also refer to a place of entertainment with geisha. These kinds of tea houses, called ochaya , are typically very exclusive establishments.

The most notable ochaya is the Ichiriki Ochaya.

4c. JAPANESE ARCHITECTUREHeian PeriodHeian PeriodHeian PeriodHo-o-do of the Byodo-in TempleHo-o-do of the Byodo-in TempleKamakura and Muromachi PeriodKamakura and Muromachi PeriodKamakura Structure: Shofuku-ji Kamakura periodMuromachi periodTea HouseTea HouseTea House