The Maker Speaks
Horyu-ji
The Oldest Wooden Buildings in the World
The Oldest Wooden Buildings in the World
Hello, everyone! Today's topic is the Horyu-ji (Horyu Temple) in Nara. Like the Todai-ji which I talked about last time, the temple is also standing in Nara, not Kyoto. Don't you misunderstand or hurt Nara inhabitants' feelings.
Of course, the temple includes some important cultural resources like the five-storied pagoda. Horyu-ji is the head temple of Shotoku Sect whose founder is Prince Shotoku, therefore, there're several resources about him there.
Before everything, Horyu-ji's Sai-in Garan is so widely acknowledged to be the oldest wooden buildings in the world. How old? It is believed Prince Shotoku moved to the Ikaruga-nomiya Palace in 605, the first temple was completed in 607. Oh, it is so far all beyond our considerations.
What matters? Buildings is, I believe, a stage for life. Naturally, we can't take no notice of succession as long as they exist for life.
Now we usually have concrete buildings on our life, don't we? However, they are very difficult to be taken over long, because we are difficult to repair them partially. In most cases of concrete buildings, we have to pull down for renewal. So we can say we shouldn't use concrete buildings for life, maybe.
Why have the buildings of Horyu-ji been the oldest wooden ones in the world? It's easily repaired partially. I don't mean we should live in wooden buildings. But it's considered true that concrete buildings have made our succession more difficult.
Horyu-ji might still have what we already lost.
Of course, the temple includes some important cultural resources like the five-storied pagoda. Horyu-ji is the head temple of Shotoku Sect whose founder is Prince Shotoku, therefore, there're several resources about him there.
Before everything, Horyu-ji's Sai-in Garan is so widely acknowledged to be the oldest wooden buildings in the world. How old? It is believed Prince Shotoku moved to the Ikaruga-nomiya Palace in 605, the first temple was completed in 607. Oh, it is so far all beyond our considerations.
What matters? Buildings is, I believe, a stage for life. Naturally, we can't take no notice of succession as long as they exist for life.
Now we usually have concrete buildings on our life, don't we? However, they are very difficult to be taken over long, because we are difficult to repair them partially. In most cases of concrete buildings, we have to pull down for renewal. So we can say we shouldn't use concrete buildings for life, maybe.
Why have the buildings of Horyu-ji been the oldest wooden ones in the world? It's easily repaired partially. I don't mean we should live in wooden buildings. But it's considered true that concrete buildings have made our succession more difficult.
Horyu-ji might still have what we already lost.
