Traditional Japanese Architecture

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Traditionally, Japanese heritage has been very vast, and the present-day Japanese Experience can be easily related to the Japanese history of the sixth century. Since the previous eras, a dominant position on the map of the globe has been received by Japan, and the sea has always contributed a lot to its borders. Very early traces of immigration have been observed in this country, and since the tenth century, utilization of a common language has been done by the Japanese populace. The abovementioned statements seem to convey the message that Japan is maybe a traditional country. However, some of the major innovations in terms of the development of art, literature, technology, etc. have been observed for several decades. One of the major attributes of Japan is that it has learned a lot from other parts of the world, as well as, implemented them within its boundaries. In this paper, the culture and innovative society of Japan has been evaluated by one of the leading authorities of Japan, Beasley, with the relation to traditional Japanese history. (Beasley, 1995).

According to Coaldrake, “ancient rulers built their empires by constructing temples and places as well as by building armies and destroying enemies. Modern government is also preoccupied with modern architecture as an expression of civic responsibility as well as a tool for economic stimulus”. (Coaldrake, 1996).

The sixth-century has been considered as a major twist in the religious, political, social, and cultural lives of the Japanese populace. One of the major causes of the abovementioned twists has been the commencement of Buddhism in the country, which was greatly influenced by the socialism from China. “Beasley believes that “by the eleventh century the Chinese element was waning and the country was entering a long and essentially “Japanese” feudal period–with two rulers, an emperor and a Shogun–which was to last until the nineteenth century”. (Beasley, 1995).

In the year 1868, an emerging world power was introduced on the globe, and national wealth, cultural strength, and political potency were some of the major areas that were considered by the Japanese rulers by the arrival of the Meiji Restoration in the country. Subsequently, Japan kept on developing, and Japanese people were blessed with the wealth of westernization, in terms of economy, culture, social lives, etc. In particular, a number of miracles occurred in Japanese history, which can be related to the year 1945, which brought enormous changes in the country. (Beasley, 1995).

It has been considered by most archaeologists that no prehistoric culture can be related to the Japanese world. However, a number of proofs have resulted in a change in their thinking, as Paleolithic tools made of chipped stones have been discovered after the end of World War II. It is believed that a number of land bridges would have been utilized by the people of the abovementioned era during their migration to the Japanese islands from other parts of the Asian continent, and this migration has been related to the prehistoric era of ten thousand years ago. As no human remains have been found during the excavations, the information regarding the inhabitants of that time cannot be collected by the experts. However, several archaeologists have noted that caves were used for the living, and hunting would have been the major necessity of the occupants of that era. In addition, interestingly, the Japanese history can be related to even a pre-pottery culture, as the Japanese sites have not provided any bone or horn tools to the experts. (Churchill n.d.).

“Landes believes, Japan is a wonderful case study of the way a society and its mode of organization and culture can transcend the intentions of the rulers and the institutions that the rulers set in place”. The ruling dynasty dominated the country, which was not in power until the sixteenth century. However, the abovementioned step was taken in response to a number of civil wars that deteriorated the country in the sixteenth century. Until the late nineteenth century, the development and evolution that brought Japan were due to the exemplifying ruling of the abovementioned dynasty, which cannot be put under the category of an imperial dynasty. Thus, this ruling dynasty has been considered as one of the major blessings to Japan, as hundreds of years of contribution have been given by this family to Japan, which resulted in the emergence of Japan as a world power. During their ruling, several new ideas were introduced in the country, such as, samurai that allowed the rivalries to settle under one shade, rather than spreading in the country through civil wars. (Landes, 1998).

As earlier mentioned in the paper, a number of steps were taken by the ruling dynasty for the pacification of the terrible conditions of the country. During this period, different religious concepts were introduced in the country, such as, the utilization of rice for thanking God, which was an act of devotion and peace. However, this rice was used for different trade purposes that contributed significantly to the country’s revenue. By region, labor and specialization were divided based on Adam Smithian theory, and the development of a very active industry was observed due to the different requirements and demands of the people in the country. Thus, the eighteenth century observed an earlier wave of fermentation in the country. (Landes, 1998).

Education and literature were also responded similarly by the Japanese society. The import of books was banned, and foreigners were not allowed to access the traditional Japanese books, which bounded the knowledge in the country. However, despite several efforts for the obstruction of books import, the literature was being imported illegally in the country. During this period, experts have deemed the imported knowledge as Dutch knowledge in Japanese society. It has been observed that western sciences were quite dominating the globe at that time, and the influential intellect of the Japanese educators quite resembled the dominance. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the limitations imposed on the knowledge and literature were taken off, and globalization began in the country, which was responded quite positively by several Japanese elites, such as, Mitsui, who contributed significantly to the Japanese society in a responsible manner. A number of experts and professionals have deemed Japan as a mini Europe during that period due to its internal trade activities and distinct markets. (Landes, 1998).

“Cox in this regard believes, according to Japanese tradition this is how the line of emperors came to be: The sun goddess Amaterasu sent her grandson Ninigi to earth to establish an eternal dynasty”. Subsequently, a young girl was made his wide, and a royal palace was built by him. Jimmu was the blessed son of this royal couple, who conquered the hearts of the Japanese populace by his heroic acts in different wars, and consequently, the responsibility of the first Japanese emperor was taken by him. Nowadays, the ancient state of Yamoto has been related to this myth, and it has been noted that political justification regarding the dominance by this royal family during the early centuries was the result of it. (Cox, n.d).

Thus, it has been noted that the Japanese cultural production can be greatly related to prehistoric culture, and cultural and social innovations after the commencement of the Meiji Era that spread in almost all the parts of the country, and these innovations have existed until today. Some of the major innovations in terms of the development of art, literature, technology, etc. have been observed for several decades in Japan, which has resulted in its emergence as a world power. It is a hope that this paper will help professionals, students, and artists to understand the crucial role that has been played by the western influences in the production of Japanese art and culture in the country.

References

Beasley W.G. (1995). The Japanese Experience. Digital Publishing.

Churchill R. (n.d.). Ancient Japan. 2007. Web.

Cox M. (n.d.). Imperial Japan. 2007. Web.

Coaldrake W. H. (1996). Architecture and Authority. Routledge Publishing.

Landes D.S. (1998) Culture counts: 2007. Web.

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Traditional Japanese Architecture

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