The building of Horyu-ji : the technique and wood that made it possible / Tsunekazu Nishioka and Jiro Kohara ; translated by Michael Brase

Object Details

author

Nishioka, Tsunekazu 1908-1995

Kohara, Jirō 1916-

translator

Brase, Michael

Subject

Hōryūji (Ikaruga-chō, Nara-ken, Japan)

"Originally published in Japanese language, under the title of 'Hōryū-ji o sasaeta ki' by NHK Publishing, Inc. in 1978"--Title page verso.

Contents

The Asuka period and wood -- The appeal of trees -- Rich in wood, poor in trees -- Wood is alive -- Hinoki and the Japanese people -- The transportation of wood in ancient times -- Thoughts on Hinoki

Summary

"Horyu-ji temple was first erected in the 7th century and has come down to us today in the magnificent form it achieved in 711, over 1,300 years ago. It has given lie to the common misconception that wood is destined to quickly rot and decay, and has demonstrated the enduring value of wood, not to mention the fact that the temple has been designated a World Heritage Site as the earth's oldest wooden structure. Here Tsunekazu Nishioka, the master carpenter who undertook the repair of this monumental structure in the mid 20th century, shares the insights and knowledge he gained from that experience. To make Nishioka's words and observations more easily understood by later generations, Jiro Kohara has buttressed them with scientific experiments and commentary, bringing into sharp view Hory-ji's long-concealed mysteries and secrets. The result is a revealing picture of Japan's immemorial love of trees and wood, a broad-ranging introduction to the country's wood culture." from back cover.

2016

Type

Books

Physical description

x, 222 pages : illustrations, maps, plans ; 22 cm

Place

Japan

Title

Horyu-ji : the technique and wood that made it possible

(Eibunban) Hōryūji o sasaeta ki

(英文版) 法隆寺を支えた木

Smithsonian Libraries

Topic

Building, Wooden

Wood

Architecture, Japanese

Record ID

siris_sil_1064081

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0