Bibliography


Akiyama, Aisaburo. Shinto and its Architecture, Tokyo: Tokyo News Service, Ltd. 1955.

Even though the original text is fairly old, the information is still accurate. The book explains not only the architecture of Shinto, but also the basic ideas and beliefs behind the religion. It also analyzes in depth the history and development of various aspects of Shinto architecture such as the torii and the roof styles. It does not go into detail about the specific Shinto shrines, but it does give a very nice overview.

Alex, William. Japanese Architecture, New York: George Braziller, Inc. 1963

Japanese Architecture is a small and concise text that covers the many different architectural styles and elements from the earliest inhabitants that had crossed over from Korea during the Stone Age, right up until the beginning of the Modern Period. Much of the text also emphasizes how the architecture is a response to the effects of nature.

Blaser, Werner. Japanese Temples and Tea-Houses, New York: F.W. Dodge Corporation. 1956.

Blaser's approach in this book is to attempt to convey the Japanese spirit that is expressed in its temples and tearooms and to see how they can influence Western architectural styles. The book also explains how the architectural structure and the space co-exist seamlessly in the architecture of Japanese temples and teahouses. Much of the book is composed of images followed by brief captions.

Blaser, Werner. Structure and Form in Japan: Architectural Reflections, New York: Wittenborn and Company. 1963.

With the belief that Japanese architecture is born out of an integration of  man, nature, material and the creative will,  the author attempts to show how they are coordinated in terms of three traits that he believes are prevalent in Japanese architecture: Sensibility, Flexibility and Integration.

Cram, Ralph Adams. Impressions of Architecture and the Allied Arts. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1966.

The author of this book speaks glowingly about Japanese architecture but lacks the true insight about the architecture of Japan. Considered one of the first westerners to write about the architecture of Japan, his first impressions are very interesting and allow for an obviously impartial look at the art and architecture of Japan.

Drexler, Arthur. The Architecture of Japan, New York: The Museum of Modern Art by Arno Press. 1966.  

This book presents Japanese architecture first as buildings influenced by nature and religion, then by how they are put together and finally by a review of the buildings considered architectural masterpieces by the Japanese themselves. The key to the buildings chosen to be reviewed by Drexler coincides directly with how they have influenced Western architecture in the 20th century, particularly the Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe.

Frampton, Kenneth, Kunio Kudo. Japanese Building Practice From Ancient Times to the Meiji Period. New York: Von Nostradand Reinhold, 1997.

This book is on the history of development of building techniques in Japanese architecture. It covers the practice of architecture from the beginning of the Buddhist age up to the Meiji era. Frampton discusses the techniques and materials used in the ancient practices of buildings while Kudo discusses more of the modern aspect of Japanese building practices.

Hibi, Sadao. Japanese Detail Architecture, San Francisco: Chronicle Books. 1989

A book that contains a collection of photos that focus on the architectural details in Japanese architecture. It contains images of doors, ornaments, roofs, windows, gates, screens and many other elements of architecture.

Inoue, Mitsuo. Space in Japanese Architecture, New York: Weatherhill, Inc. 1985.

The author in this book attempts to find an understanding of the space of historical Japanese architecture according to their plans and spatial arrangement. The purpose of his studies was to focus more on the aesthetics and theory behind the architecture of Japan; something that up until that point, was something rarely discussed. Therefore, the book basically discusses how tacit aesthetic understanding of the Japanese has influenced the architectural space.

Kidder, Edward. Japanese Temples. London: Thames and Hudson, 1964.

This book is an attempt by the author to expand the information available in English about Japanese temples. He believes that not enough emphasis is placed on the history and the actual function of the temples. Kidder wants to explain how the temple symbolizes the aspirations, struggles and the power of the religion and art of Japan. He uses many large photos and a very accurate and concise text to carry his message across.

Mason, Penelope. History of Japanese Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams. Inc. 1993

This book covers not only Japanese art, but also Japanese architecture. It covers both simultaneously in order to show the interaction between the art and the architecture of Japan. While the text is mostly about the ancient arts of Japan, such as paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints, it also has a significant amount of information about various temples that are well known for the artifacts that they hold.

Masuda, Tomoya. Living Architecture: Japanese, New York: Grosset & Dunlap. 1970

The text by Masuda is not necessarily a historical account of the architecture of Japan, but rather an account of the ancient structures that exist today, the reasons they were built, how they were built and why they were built. It takes a much different approach to the study of Japanese architecture where parallels are found not in the period in which they were built, but in the how and why they were built regardless of the date of construction.

Murata, Jiro. The Golden Pavilion, Japan Architect, 90-97, March 1963; 86-93, April 1963.

This is a two-part article about the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) in Kyoto. Murata researches the design and evolution of the uses of the pavilion from its start as a pleasure palace for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to its use as a priests quarter.

Murata, Jiro. Kinkaku in Rokuon-ji Temple Compound, Sinkentiku, 13-17, May 1956.

An article in Japanese discussing the history of the Kinkaku-ji temple and the temple compound that surrounds it.

Nishi, Kazuo and Kazuo Hozumi. What is Japanese Architecture? New York: Kodansha International. 1985.

This book divides the architecture of Japan by their different uses. There is a section on places of worship, residential and urban architecture, castles and the architecture for pleasure. It notes the great contradictions between the different architecture of Japan; sometimes very large and expansive and yet other times very small almost miniature.

Omori, Kenji. Jisho-ji, Silver Pavilion, Japan Architect, 86-95, Nov 1965

An article detailing the history and use of Ginkaku-ji, or the Silver Pavilion. It includes not only text and images, but also scale plans and elevations of the pavilion and temple complex.

Omori, Kenji. The Buddha Hall of Jisho-ji, Japan Architect, 85-93 Dec 1965.

A follow up article of the article Jisho-ji, Silver Pavilion, that goes into further detail of the main temple complex as opposed to just the Silver Pavilion. It includes not only text but also scale plans, sections and elevations.

Pain, R. T. The Art and Architecture of Japan, New York: Penguin 1955.

This volume contains both a chronological history of first the art and sculptures of Japan followed by the history of Japanese architecture. It distinguishes between religious and secular architecture of the various time periods from the pre-Buddhist age up until the Edo period.

Richie, Donald and Alexandre Georges. The Temples of Kyoto. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Company. 1995.

This book covers only the temples around Kyoto, but because it is so specific, there is a great deal of information about the temples. While it does not cover every temple in Kyoto, it does introduce the reader the many well known and significant temples with a history and description of the architecture. It does not have any plans or elevations, just images printed on a very nice glossy paper.

Sadler, A.L. A Short History of Japanese Architecture, Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Company. 1962.

Sadler's text is broken up first by the various periods of history beginning with the era before the introduction of Buddhism, up to the Edo period; just prior to modern Japan. The history is then followed up with other details of the architecture that revolve more around the lifestyle as opposed to just the chronological history. The text is not so much a review of how the spaces were arranged but more of how the period in which the buildings were constructed influenced the style and need for those particular buildings.

Soper, Alexander. The Evolution of Buddhist Architecture in Japan. New York: Hacker Art Books, 1979.

Even though much of the material for this book was gathered in the 1930s, the information is still relevant because this book is about the Buddhist architecture from the Asuka period up until the Edo period. Soper analyzes the architecture by dividing each of the periods into the various architectural styles and elements, such as temples and doors, and describing how they developed during that period of historical Japan.

Suzuki, Kakichi. Early Buddhist Architecture in Japan. Tokyo: Kodansha Intl. Ltd. 1980.

This book summarizes the ideas behind the evolution of early traditional Buddhist architecture in Japan. It begins during the Asuka period (593 AD) when Buddhism began to develop. The text only covers the ancient period of Japanese history, from 593 to the end of the Heian period in 1184 because the author feels that the topic is so broad that it cannot fully be covered in one small concise edition. Suzuki covers everything from the layout of temple compounds, construction techniques in addition to explaining the evolution of the temple.

Weinstein, Stanley. "Ginkaku-ji." Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, volume 4, Tokyo: Kodansha Limited, 1983. pg 33.

A brief synopsis of the Silver Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan. A very short article on its history and development.

Weinstein, Stanley, "Kinkaku-ji." Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, volume 3, Tokyo: Kodansha Limited, 1983.

A brief synopsis of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan, it's a very short article on its history development.

 

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