2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
History of Japanese Architecture
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Taisuke Yamazaki
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-4 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ARC.D302
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This class is on the history of Japanese architecture, and it focuses on not only the styles but also their structural system, space construction and historic background.
It is necessary for the students who are expected to be successful architect in the world to learn how their own architectural culture had been changed and developed in its history.
Course description and aims
The aim of this class is to deepen our understandings on the characteristics of Japanese traditional architecture which are related to the rational wooden structural system and space construction.
Keywords
history of architecture, Japan, tradition, cultural property, wooden structure
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This class proceeds with textbook and some handouts. 15 minutes at the beginning of each class are assigned for the last review.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Prehistoric buildings | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 2 | Rural houses and historic villages | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 3 | Ancientl shrine buildings | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 4 | Medieval shrine buildings | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 5 | Advent of buddhism architecture | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 6 | Japanization of buddhism architecture | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 7 | Ancient residences for aristocrats | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 8 | Medieval residences for warrior class | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 9 | Medieval buddhism architecture | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 10 | Influence of the Zen buddhism to Japanese garden and residence | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 11 | Facilities of castle in pre-modern period | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 12 | Palace and mausoleum | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 13 | Skiya-style architecture | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
| Class 14 | Tea ceremony rooms | Reading a textbook beforehand. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Nihon Kenchiku Gakkai "Nihon Kenciku-shi Zushu"(Shokoku-sha, 2011)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Kiyoshi Hirai "The Japanese House Then and Now"( Ichigaya shuppan-kai, 1998), Handouts
Evaluation methods and criteria
A final report (70％) and a quiz at each class (30％) are required.
Related courses
- the history of modern architecture
- the history of western architecture
Prerequisites
nothing
Other
nothing