Shinsei: a madeira na arquitectura religiosa japonesa

Abstract

This work was elaborated with the desire of exploring and understanding Japanese religious architecture, as well as displaying it in a way that exalts its mysticism, inventiveness and beauty. Here, religious architecture will be specifically explained through the analysis of historical periods and important milestones, as well as society's development from those factors. The uncontrollable forces of nature shaped constructive culture, revealing how ephemeral buildings were when subjected to earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, et cetera. They directed society towards the adaptation to and worship of natural forces that manifested in architecture through structures where crossbracing was barely present, but was compensated for using bracket systems that provide flexibility to the structure, which is going to be essential for resisting severe weather conditions and seismic shocks. The worship of nature developed the indigenous religion Shintō which manifested through exclusive use of raw materials provided by nature itself, especially wood. There is a fondness for natural features, for organic forms and layouts that dominate Japan's rugged territory and that only finds rationalization when continental cultures start invading the archipelago with Buddhism. Because the new religion was equally based on nature, it allowed the peaceful syncretism between Shintō and Buddhism. New construction styles were introduced, as well as a new aesthetic exchange between Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines (with the use of Buddhist elements in Shintō shrines and vice-versa) and also territorially speaking (through the sharing of holy grounds between temples and shrines). Therefore, the main theme here will be the study of Japan's religious architecture, namely Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines, keeping in mind the use of wood as the main raw material and its ability to withstand abuse from the natural elements to which its territory is constantly subjected to.