Architecture

I've always had an interest in architecture, and while the O-Haka are interesting, so are the temples

I think that one of the defining aspects of a culture is its Arcitecture, and in Japan the traditional architecture is great. The detail is beautiful, not just the shapes of the buildings, but the details, like the tiles that make up the roof, and the construction of the buildings.

Looking back at the gates, we can have a closer look at the tiles that make up the roof, looking back at the whole structure, its easy to miss that these are each works of art in themselves. As you'd expect, the pattern of the tile is not just something random, it indicates the period in which the roof was constructed. For example, the tile below (from the temples that I was looking at today) belongs to the Kamukura era.

The wood is all unfinished, which means that there is no lacquer or paint on it, and is all beautifully cut and put together.

 

The base of all the (square cut) pillars is covered in copper, and decoreated with repeating patterns. I didn't put any scale in this shot, so incase it's visually confusing, this is up close, and the size of the pattern is about 3cm across, in the background is the stairs leading up to the Temple

At the Monks place we can see an example of older architecture of the homes. Traditional Japanese homes are like Queenslanders in that they have a verandah (enclosed by sliding doors) called a engawa which goes around the outside of the house, and allows them to open the house up to fresh air, and sit and enjoy the summer breeze with a cup of ocha and look at their niwa.
As you've probably guessed, I really like the details of craftmanship, and I really wish that you could come along with me, and see this yourself. Things like this sliding door to the Monks home, the beauty of the wood is eyecatching. Looking into the reflections of the glass we can see across the street, and out of the temple. A reminder of how things here in Tokyo are stacked up against oneanother in a tightly packed way.

 

I thought I'd leave you with this door, this in some ways symbolises Tokyo for me.

Thanks for tagging along, on this trip :-)

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