Apr 26 2009
Castles of Japan: A Samurai Residence
Monday, April 27, 2009
As I’m an architecture student, I always take joy in reading something related to buildings, especially (preferably old) Japanese buildings. And as I have a library where I could find many of them written, I’d like to dig in for information. So, about a week ago, I have just finished reading a book about the castles in Japan.
Castles in Japan is so remarkable in terms of how they relate to the immediate environment instead of blocking it like in western history of architecture. True, during and after the sengoku jidai (The Warring States Period) castles in Japan has diverted from residential wooden castles to stone fortresses, but somehow, they still managed to make it relates to the surrounding vicinity.
The first residential wooden castles were built on wide flat plains because the Japanese love their nature so much, they respect it and decided not to harm it. As culture advanced and the number of people increased, flat plains in Japan - limited as they are in width and number - could not afford a living any longer. So they began to build on the hillsides.
When Oda Nobunaga tried to unify the whole nation, war rose everywhere. Wooden castles were fortified with plastered walls to endure battles. It was sufficient enough for at the time, the samurais are fighting with swords and arrows. But after the introduction of guns and other technology advances, such fortifications were simply not enough. Daimyos started to build stone castles in geographically strategic areas like on top of a mountain surrounded by steep cliffs for better fortification. It did require a bit of clearing, but most of the other trees and rocks and cliffs were left as they were as natural obstacles.
When peace time has arrived, the location of these castles moved to a more economically and/or politically strategic points like on a hill top over a major roadway to Kyoto as governmental administration points. The mind set of the time was that humbleness is not necessary, everyone has to show off how whealthy and/or powerful they are. Such mind set shone through the stone fortress which was considered as a symbol of power and elegance. However, being originally bushido guys, the way they saw beauty and show off could not be comprehend by classic greek and/or today’s standard.
The stone fortresses were considered a fine piece of art just because of its elegant curving roof. The ornament was simply family emblem on the roof tile. That’s all there was. They don’t need majestic building like the parthenon. Instead, they humanized the building by inserting courtyards everywhere - just like in the wooden castles grounds - so everyone could re-connect with the nature anytime, anywhere he wanted to.
This is why Japanese architecture so close in my heart. Because they take nature as a part of our lives. We’re not hiding from it, we’re not afraid of it, but we’re respecting it and try to live side by side with it. In a world that’s screaming to get our attention to enviromental problems, I think going side by side with nature should be the best answer. And I do sincerely hope, when I become an architect, I could fulfill this vow in my heart.
Now, what do you think? Not that I wanted to offense the western history of architecture and/or way of thinking, but maybe you have another opinion on this? What do you think could help with the global warming issues? You don’t have to know about architecture to help fighting it, just share me your thought of how maybe this thought could help when turned into action. Afterall, buildings are made by the humans, right?
_meicHan yori_
