Beauty in Japanese Architecture

by YOSHIRO TANIGTJCIU

Just as the color and scent of flowers are influenced by sunlight, water, and air, so the beauty of architecture also depends on its natural environment. This is particularly true of Japanese architecture. Because of Japan’s geographic situation, her climate is under both Pacific and Continental influences. Moreover, although her area is small, Japan extends a great distance north and south, so that her seasons vary greatly.

Sweltering summer heat, bitter winter cold, heavy rainfall, high humidity, frequent earthquakes—all these go to make Japan, architecturally, a uniquely adverse place. But the challenging seasons have been a delight to the Japanese people: long ago they evolved houses well suited to this changeful climate. And, since their mountains abound in timber, it is with wood that they have evolved their superior technique of housebuilding.

Japanese houses possess remarkable beauty and purity of design. Like those Alpine plants which put forth the purest flowers despite bitter climate, or the weeds of waste lands that bring forth lovely flowers, they exhibit pure plastic lyricism. Moreover, their style has a long history behind it. Originated in the fifth century A.D., it underwent many stages of historical development, retaining always its essential beauty and simplicity. Japanese architecture successfully assimilated Buddhism and Asiatic culture in the sixth century, Christianity and bits of European culture in the sixteenth.

Simplicity, functionalism, straightforward expression of materials and construction, geometric composition devoid of superficial ornamentation, standardization of parts, unity of house and garden — these are the elements which make up Japanese architectural beauty.

It is not difficult to suppose, therefore, that Japanese traditional architecture offers to Western eyes accustomed to twentieth-century European expressionism, cubism, abstractionism, and surrealism, a new type of beauty.