History Through Japanese Architecture

Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto, originally built in 1397 (Muromachi period)

History Through Japanese Architecture
Shinto
Japanese believed
in gods or nature
spirits called kami.
They believed that
these spirits lived
in natural objects.
History Through Japanese Architecture

Buddhism
In later centuries,
Buddhism spread
among the common
people and became
an important part of
Japanese life. It did
not replace Shinto,
however. Most
Japanese believed in
both religions.
 History Through Japanese Architecture

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism and originated in China during the

6th century as Chán. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam,
to Korea and east to Japan.
 History Through Japanese Architecture

The word Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle
Chinese word 禪Dzyen (Modern Mandarin: Chán), which in turn is derived
from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as
"absorption" or "meditative state".
Historic migration of Buddhism
Topographical map of
Southeast Asia and Japan
 History Through Japanese Architecture

Reconstructions of early Japanese

dwellings c. 1st – 3rd centuries CE
 Feudal
Systems
 Japanese Feudal System
In Japan's feudal system some groups at lower levels of power actually had
more influence than those at higher levels. For example, although the emperor
and the shoguns held the top positions, they were often just figureheads. The
daimyo had the most real power and were the most responsible for running the
business of daily life for most of Japanese society.
 History Through Japanese Architecture

Gassho-zukuri farmhouse, Ogimachi Village, Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

 History Through Japanese Architecture

Gassho-zukuri farmhouse, Ogimachi Village, Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

 History Through Japanese Architecture

Himeji Castle, Hyōgo Prefecture, 1333, Japan.

 History Through Japanese Architecture

Nagoya and
Matsumoto Castles
History Through Japanese Architecture
 History Through Japanese Architecture

Buddhist Pagodas
Japan, 8th century
History Through Japanese Architecture

The Temple garden of Tenryū-ji, 1400

History Through Japanese Architecture

The Temple garden of Tenryū-ji, 1400

 History Through Japanese Architecture

The Dry (temple) garden of Ryoanji (Kyoto, Japan)1450

History Through Japanese Architecture