In the olden Japan days, there used to be basically two unlike sorts of homes. The first type was one with many columns enclosed in a large hole that is plowed in the earth and enclosed by grass. The second type was constructed in a way in which the floor was elevated above the earth level. This kind was known to have come from Southeast Asia. Back in those day, during the winter seasons, in order to stay warm, Japanese people would utilizes a table that was heated known as a kotatsu. Families would sit and surround it in commonly in the living room. The table know as a kotatsu was created at Buddhist temples back in the middle ages. It formerly utilized coal as a source of heat. The newer versions of these special tables use electricity.
There are many architectural styles that exist in Japan, for example, Kansai is one of them. Kansai, is a beautiful style of wood dense architecture that was first created sometime in the 8th Century. This type of architecture was one of the foundations that guided that Japanese structures. These are structures and styles that you would see in newer homes in Japan to this day.
It was common in older Japanese culture to build homes with a lot of wood. This started as a trend because of earthquakes. Wood was very respected and often not even painted throughout the house. So much so, that in some cases, nails were not utilized to hold the house together. Japanese who would build houses would create other ways to hold the home together. This ties to Shinto principles and the importance of nature in Japanese architecture.
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There is a strong preference for things to be more simple and natural. This is all to be accomplished with least human effort. It is also a Shinto beliefs for homes and structures to be surrounded by the beautiful nature all around. Shintoism has always shown a strong love for nature. The original architecture of Shinto temples differ a lot and this depends on the physical site of the temple or shrine. Former Shinto shrines tended to be more humbler and not as ornamental and more fancy as well. This changed when Buddhism and Chinese architectural styles were introduced later on.
A feature that was common back then and is still common now is the sliding door. They are light, almost see-through, screens that are often used to divide rooms. They slide over and are so thin that natural light still comes through. It was not very common for windows to be built into homes. The sliding doors that I have described, are a feature that still exists in home in Japan to this day.
Zen Buddhism was development sometime in the 13th Century. This development happened at the same time that Chinese traditions had an influence on Japanese culture. It was all overlapped with the influence of a more simple and proportioned architectural style. This all had a hand in a then, newly developed style called Zenshūyo. This newly developed style had various features, for example, small temples, doors that are made from panels, many columns in the middle of the home, and ornamental roofs.
When are this was occurring, Japanese architecture was influenced by Zen Buddhism. This was in the sense of minimalism and sturdiness. A lot of the teahouses in Japan are designed with these newer and different standards. The homes are different in many ways, they have more basic tones, they are not balanced and even with their abstract shapes, they look more modernized.
Shinto and Buddhism once were closely interwoven. Religious exercises cultivated where forms of both Shinto and Buddhism fused and overlapped together. However, after the Meiji Revolution, both Buddhism and Shintoism detached slowly. However, after this a lot of Japanese remained following both Buddhism and Shintoism. Following the Meiji Restoration that happened in 1868, Japan was a little more open and because of this, absorbed some European and some American inspirations. The Meiji Renovation, was an occurrence that re-established everyday imperial law in the Empire of Japan. This all occurred under Emperor Meiji. This is why it was known as the Meiji Restoration, or Meiji Renovation. He initiated Westernization, by bringing architects from other countries. For example, Thomas Waters traveled from Britain. Thomas Waters was brought to establish a new style from the normal Japanese project tradition and design.
While all of this was happening, there was yet another influence on Japanese architecture besides the one mentioned before. This influence was the Olympic games of 64’ that were held in Tokyo, Japan. One of the intentions of the Olympics being held in Japan, was to renew Japan after it was devastated by World War II. The Olympics was an exciting event that united Japanese architects and engineers to help meet the demand for fresh and innovative venues.
In result, there was a great mixture of a different and blended Japanese architecture style. Fast forward to today, a more contemporary custom in Japan exists. This new tradition is powered by a certain attraction to Western traditions. More modern Japanese architects are coping with the balance with older traditions and new modern influences. Currently Japanese architecture continues to be at the front of the trends all over the world.
