Japanese Architecture

Question 1

The rectangular mat is used as a floor covering in Japanese houses. It consists of a thick straw base and a soft, finely woven rush cover with cloth borders. T measures approximately 180 by 90 cm (6 by 3feet) and is about 5 cm (2 inches) thick. In shinden and shoin domestic architecture, it completely covers the floor.

Answer 1

Tatami

Question 2

Japanese kitchen

Answer 2

Daidokoro

Question 3

In Japan, the form of the roof has a horizontal section at the highest point and has a rectangular flat form. Historically, it was more common in eastern Japan and was called “azumaya” in ancient times.

Answer 3

Yosemune-zukuri

Question 4

The shrine is well known for two sand cones on its grounds that serve a purification function for the shrine and have been made ritually since ancient times.

Answer 4

Kamigamo Shrine

Question 5

In the room of a traditional Japanese house, there is a small section that is used for storage. It is about one tatami matin size and is usually divided by a shelf in the middle.

Answer 5

Oshiire

Question 6

The grand shrine at Ise is known as the spiritual home of the Japanese people. Dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu-omikami it is said that the location was found 2,000 years ago by Princess Yamatohime-no-mikoto, daughter of Emperor Suinin who has directed to the spot by the goddess herself. A second principal shrine at Ise is known as Geku and is dedicated to the god Toyouke Omikami.

Answer 6

Ise Grand Shrine

Question 7

The honden style uses hottate bashira (earth fast posts), has a kirizuma-zukuri style roof, and hira-iri (the style of buildings that have an entrance on the long side of the buildings). Except for the cylindrical pillars and Katsuogi (ornamental logs arranged perpendicular to the ridge of a Shinto shrine), the external view is completely made up of straight edges due to its flat construction.

Answer 7

Shinmei-zukuri

Question 8

The honden style uses building uses hottate bashira (earth fast posts), elements of the kirizuma-zukuri style (an architectural style with a gabled roof), and tsuma-iri (the style of building which has an entrance on its shorter side) and has a roof with graceful, curved lines).

Answer 8

Taisha-zukuri

Question 9

The shrine is one of Japan’s oldest shrines. Founded in the 3rd century before the introduction of Buddhism, it displays a unique style of shrine architecture that is free of influence from the Asian mainland.

Answer 9

Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine

Question 10

The shrine was built in the 8th century, is located at the base of the Kunisaki Peninsula. It is the head shrine of thousands of shrines across Japan that are dedicated to the god of archery and war, who has also been identified with the legendary 15th emperor of Japan, Emperor Ojin. The shrine had an enormous influence on the Kunisaki Peninsula’s culture and shaped the local mountain worship religion. The shrine’s main hall is a designated national treasure and the prototype of this style of shrine architecture. In this architecture style, the shrine buildings consist of two halls whose roofs relate to each other, forming a single building.

Answer 10

Usa Jingū

Question 11

Traditional Japanese-style rooms come with a unique interior design that includes tatami mats as flooring. Consequently, they are also known as tatami rooms. Their style dates to the Muromachi Period when they originally served as study rooms for the wealthy before gradually becoming more commonplace as reception and living quarters.

Answer 11

Washitsu or Nihonma

Question 12

The sliding outer partition doors and windows are made of a latticework wooden frame and covered with a tough, translucent whitepaper. When closed, they softly diffuse light throughout the house.

Answer 12

Shoji

Question 13

The honden style employs kirizuma-zukuri style with a Tsuma-iri, and, like taisha-zukuri style, elegant curves are provided on the roof. its roof is curved toward each side and is also provided at the front, forming a kohai (a roof built over the steps leading up to a temple building (i. e., eaves)). Many shrines of this style are influenced by temple architecture in terms of colors, etc.

Answer 13

Kasuga-zukuri

Question 14

Chinese architecture was based on a lifestyle that included the use of chairs, while in Japan people customarily sat on the ______.

Answer 14

floor

Question 15

Japanese bath

Answer 15

Ofuro

Question 16

The miniature Shinto shrine is placed high on the wall, on a well-lit and quiet zone inside the house or store. An orientation facing east, or south is generally considered desirable.

Answer 16

Kamidana

Question 17

The column that is found in temples or gateway is followed by _____ form.

Answer 17

Indian

Question 17

The shrine is also known as the “LowerKamo Shrine “, is located at the junction of the Takano and Kamo rivers. It is surrounded by the Tadasu no Mori, a forest that was preserved during the modernization of the city and contains trees that are up to 600 years old.

Answer 17

Shimogamo Shrine

Question 18

The bracketing structure can be seen in many Buddhist temples all over Japan. The bracket complex consists of two basic parts, the bearing block (Masu) and the bracket arm (Hijiki).

Answer 18

Kumimono & Tokyõ

Question 19

The floor extension is at one side of a Japanese-style house, usually facing a yard or garden and serving as a passageway and sitting space. Also known as the veranda.

Answer 19

Engawa

Question 20

The built-in, staggered wall shelving is typically found beside the alcove and used for displaying decorations like vases and incense burners.

Answer 20

Chigaidana

Question 21

The honden style is a shrine pavilion built by interconnecting 2 buildings back-to-back. Two buildings, a front hall and arear hall built in the kirizuma-zukuri style (an architectural style with a gabled roof), and hirairi (the entrance to a building built parallel to the ridge of the roof, usually on the long side of the building), respectively, are interconnected back-to-back with an Ainoma (Middle Room located between Honden main hall and Haiden oratory) in between them.

Answer 21

Hachiman-zukuri

Question 22

The dwelling is used for warehouses. On-stilts dwellings.

Answer 22

Takayuka-shiki

Question 23

Japanese squat toilet.

Answer 23

Washiki

Question 24

The vestibule is just inside the main entrance to the Japanese home.

Answer 24

Genkan

Question 25

It is one of Japan’s oldest temples and the first ever to be built by the state. It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th-century design. In the pebble-covered courtyard of the inner precinct stand a five-storied pagoda that can be entered and ascended and the Main Hall (Kondo) in which Prince Shotokuis enshrined as a statue of Kannon.

Answer 25

Shitennoji Temple

Question 26

The wooden step inside the main entrance to a Japanese home.

Answer 26

Shikidai

Question 27

One of the most striking architectural features of the traditional Japanese buildings is the roof and among the diverse types, the Japanese version of what is called a “hip-and-gable” roof. It is a combination of the hipped and the gable roofs, combining the advantages of both types. The hipped roof gives stability to the building, and it is often used in places with intense winds, while the gable roof is recommended in areas with heavy snow.

Answer 27

Irimoya-zukuri

Question 28

It’s a natural hot spring bath, and thanks to its plentiful volcanic activity Japan has lots of them. The water is geothermally heated beneath the ground and rises to the surface bubbling hot. The water must contain at least one of the 19 designated chemical elements that naturally occur in hot spring water, and it must be at least 25C when it comes out of the ground.

Answer 28

Onsen

Question 29

The recessed alcoves are typically decorated by a hanging scroll in addition to a vase or flower arrangement. The decorations are typically changed to reflect the season. Traditionally, the most important guest is seated in front of it.

Answer 29

Tokonoma

Question 30

This period lasted from around 300 BC to 300AD. Characterized by the start of widespread rice farming, resulting in the appearance of permanent settlements with bigger populations. Communities became organized in villages, with areas demarcated for granaries, storehouses, and living quarters. Houses were built on stilts to keep away pests. Structures such as village fences and watchtowers were applied.

Answer 30

Yayoi Period

Question 31

It’s one of Japan’s most important shrines. There are no records of exactly when it was built, but it is often considered the oldest shrine in Japan, being already in existence in the early 700s as revealed by the nation’s oldest chronicles.

Answer 31

Izumo Oyashiro Grand Shrine

Question 32

Nara’s most celebrated shrine. It was established at the same time as the capital and is dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city. It was also the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, Japan’s most powerful family clan during most of the Nara and Heian Periods. It is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshipers. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from the buildings, while as many stone lanterns line their approaches.

Answer 32

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Question 33

The unit of measure was developed by the Japanese. It was originally used to designate the interval between two columns and varied in size, however, it later was standardized for residential architecture and became an absolute measurement. Along with being a measurement for the construction of buildings, it was what ordered the structure and space of Japanese architecture. Room determined by tatami or floor coverings 1 x ½ (1.8x 0.9 m).

Answer 33

Ken

Question 34

The earliest period of Japan lasted from around 13000 BC to 300 BC. Dwellings were built directly over an earth floor with a wood foundation and a thatched straw roof. Inside the house, the floor may have been hollowed in, which is why in this period, houses are often called “pit dwellings”.

Answer 34

Jomon period

Question 35

Introduced to ancient Japan via Korea in the6th century CE with various sects following in subsequent centuries via China. It was readily accepted by both the elite and ordinary populace because it confirmed the political and economic status quo, offered a welcoming reassurance to the mystery of the afterlife, and complemented existing Shinto beliefs.

Answer 35

Buddhism

Question 36

The sliding doors, which divide the rooms, are covered with paper of many patterns or decorated with paintings or calligraphy.

Answer 36

Fusuma

Question 37

Are local establishments that serve the far more practical need of daily hygiene. Indeed, the two kanji which make up the word meaning “coin” and “hot water”. In other words, you are simply buying hot water heated from the water supply just like you would if you run a bath at home.

Answer 37

Sento

Question 38

The honden style architecture has no veranda (a narrow wooden passageway along the edge of a house facing the garden) or the sacred core pillar installed at the center of the main sanctuary of a shrine, and the inside is divided into a naijin (inner sanctuary of a shrine or temple) and a gejin (part of the main sanctuary outside the innermost sanctum of a shrine). It is rectangular with a width of approx. 3. 6 meters and a depth of approx. 7.3 meters, approx. 3.6 meters each for the naijin and gejin.

Answer 38

Sumiyoshi-zukuri

Question 39

One of the Japanese residential architectural styles which were established after the middle of the Muromachi Period. It has had a strong influence on Japanese residential houses since then. It is furnished with zashikikazari (a set of decorative features), such as tokonoma(alcoves for the display of art objects) (or oshi-ita),chigai-dana (shelves built into the wall), and tsukeshoin (a built-in table). Even at banquets today, seats are often designated as ‘kamiza’ or ‘shimoza’ according to their position relative to the tokonoma, which implies that distances from tokonoma once helped members to verify each other’s rank and status.

Answer 39

Shoin-zukuri

Question 40

Also known as the Golden Pavilion, isaZentemplein northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will, it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. The temple was the inspiration for the similarly named silver Pavilion, built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later. The temple is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the theOnin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955.

Answer 40

Kinkakuji

Question 41

Shaped like a pyramid, is one of the types of roofs used in Japanese traditional architecture, especially for Buddhist constructions. When used for religious purposes, it has on top a parallelepipedic object called roban, with a double role, decorative and spiritual.

Answer 41

Hogyo-zukuri

Question 42

traditional Japanese wood-or charcoal-fueled cook stove.

Answer 42

Kamado

Question 43

The residential houses that have been built since the Meiji Period using traditional designs and construction methods are also included in this type of dwelling.

Answer 43

Minka

Question 44

It was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku, who is credited with the early promotion of Buddhism in Japan. Is one of the country’s oldest temples and contains the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures. It was designated a world heritage site in 1993. The temple grounds are spacious and separated into two main precincts, the Western Precinct (Saiin Garan) and the Eastern Precinct (ToinGaran). Enclosed by roofed corridors, the Western Precinct is home to the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures: the central gate (Chumon), the main hall (Kondo), and a five-story pagoda. They were built sometime in the Asuka period (538-710) and have not suffered destruction ever since, although they have undergone renovations multiple times over the centuries.

Answer 44

Horyuji Temple

Question 45

Monumental, free-standing gateways to a Shinto shrine. Derived from the Chinese pai-lou. It has two upright pillars or posts supporting two or more horizontal beams, usually curving upward. Worshippers must pass under this for prayers to be effective.

Answer 45

Torii

Question 46

A style of Japanese architecture used in aristocratic mansions in the Heian period. The main building is built facing a south garden with two subsidiary buildings called tainoya to the east and west, and two corridors called wataridono connect the building and the two tainoya, from which the wataridono corridors extend south and end in tsuridono, or fishing pavilions.

Answer 46

Shinden-zukuri

Question 47

The dwelling is built by first digging a depression in a round or quadrilateral shape, then creating a framework in the depression by installing several columns, followed by connecting the framework with balks and beams, and lastly thatching its roof with dirt and reed or other plants.

Answer 47

Tateana-shiki

Question 48

Japan’s native belief system predates historical records. It revolves around the Japanese land and seasons and their relationship with the human inhabitants. Expressions of religious beliefs toward nature include the recognition of a divine spirit (kami) in venerable old trees, large mountains, and tall waterfalls, as well as celebrations of the highlights of each season.

Answer 48

Shinto

Question 49

The oldest roof style used in Japanese traditional architecture: a roof made simply from two sides connected at the ridge. Translated as “cut out gable” it indicates that seen from aside, the wall seems to be cut by the sides of the roof. It’s also the simplest of the Japanese traditional architectural styles, often used for lower-class houses.

Answer 49

Kirizuma-zukuri

Question 50

The Japanese term for castles.

Answer 50

Donjon

Question 51

The honden style is characterized by a long extending, curved front slope of the warped roof, which constitutes a kohai(eave). This is the most popular architectural style among Japanese shrines. The style employs a kirizuma-zukuri/hirairi structure, and its roof forms a graceful curve like that of taisha-zukuri style.

Answer 51

Nagare-zukuri

Question 52

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1993, it was built between 1601 and 1609 by Ikeda Terumasa, the son-in-law of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Unlike other castles in Japan, it has managed to avoid being destroyed by a fire or natural disaster and was never attacked. It has undergone some major restorations but is always in accordance with designs and construction methods used to make the original. Standing 46 meters high, also known as the White Egret Castle because all the structures are white and from a distance, the castle looks like a white bird in the middle of some rice fields. Constructed of wood, plaster, and stone, it features a seven-story-high,five-tiered donjon with platforms of white stone and a white plaster exterior, three smaller donjons, a three-story watchtower, and covered passages connecting the donjon with the towers.

Answer 52

Himeji castle

Question 53

The Buddhist altar generally contains memorial tablets for dead ancestors and, in accordance with sect affiliation, representations of various Buddhist divinities.

Answer 53

Butsudan

Question 54

It is also known as the “Great EasternTemple”, is one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. The temple was constructed in 752 as the head temple of allprovincialBuddhisttemplesof Japan and grew so powerful that the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 to lower the temple’s influence on government affairs. Its main hall, the theDaibutsuden(Big Buddha Hall), held the record as the world’s largest wooden building, even though the present reconstruction of 1692 is onlytwo-thirds of the original temple hall’s size. The massive building houses one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu). The 15 meters tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas.

Answer 54

Todai-ji