Japanese architecture is one of the most inspired manifestations of Japanese civilisation. This study argues that architectural styles are more than just symbols of the powers that created them. William H. Coaldrake explores the symbiotic relationship between architecture and authority throughout Japanese history, exploring key structures as active conveyors of power, and relating buildings to the political ambitions and religious beliefs of the major historical eras in Japan.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
There is nothing in English which covers quite this area of knowledge, and there is none better qualified to write such a book. Bill Coaldrake has written a book which will be an excellent rescource for students and professional scholars alike. It should become a classic in the field and I also think it will stand the test of time.
–Joy Hendry, Oxford Brookes University
This will be by far the best book on the place of architecture, expecially monumental public architecture, in Japanese history and culture. Dr Coaldrake gives focus to his work, and to the political role of architecture, by concentrating on buildings not only as symbols of authority but as active carriers of authority ...But the book is much more than an architectural history. It is a major contribution to the cultural history of Japan.
–Martin Colcutt, Princeton University
This excellent book will become the authoritative work on architecture in relation to Japanese history and politics..
–David Forfar, THES
The book is well-written and edited. While it contains technical material, it is not so technical that it will be inacessible to ordinary readers. I anticipate using the book in my courses on Japanese history and culture at Princeton, and I am sure it will appear on other college reading lists in the United States for courses in art history, architecture, history and culture.
–Martin Colcutt, Professor of East Asian Studies and History at Princeton University
–Joy Hendry, Oxford Brookes University
This will be by far the best book on the place of architecture, expecially monumental public architecture, in Japanese history and culture. Dr Coaldrake gives focus to his work, and to the political role of architecture, by concentrating on buildings not only as symbols of authority but as active carriers of authority ...But the book is much more than an architectural history. It is a major contribution to the cultural history of Japan.
–Martin Colcutt, Princeton University
This excellent book will become the authoritative work on architecture in relation to Japanese history and politics..
–David Forfar, THES
The book is well-written and edited. While it contains technical material, it is not so technical that it will be inacessible to ordinary readers. I anticipate using the book in my courses on Japanese history and culture at Princeton, and I am sure it will appear on other college reading lists in the United States for courses in art history, architecture, history and culture.
–Martin Colcutt, Professor of East Asian Studies and History at Princeton University
About the Author
William Coaldrake is Head of the Department of Japanese and Chinese at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His previous appointments include Founding Member of the East Asian Architecture and Planning Program at MIT.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very well written and the subjects well selected,
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This review is from: Architecture and Authority in Japan (Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies) (Paperback)
I very much like this book. The range of examples are well selected and thought provoking. I have lived in Japan for 14 years and I have come to view Japanese architecture in a different way. The author shows a real command of the subject and writes in a way that is enjoyable to read.
As an example, one of the subject buildings (Shofuku-ji) is a temple near my house and is the only official kokuho ("National Treasure") structure in the Tokyo area. Although a beautiful building, I was not able to appreciate why it was so recognized until I read the chapter in the book about it. The author was able to set the historical context and point out what makes it unique. My only issues with this edition are: 1) The binding - it is of medium quality paperback construction, and 2) the quality of the photographs inside are not as good as I would expect. Given its relatively higher price, I would have expected hardcover and better quality photographs. These reservations aside, I recommend this book.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The soaring silhouette of Himeji Castle, the graceful roof-lines of the Nara Buddhist temples and the ebullient decorated forms of the Tokugawa mausolea at Nikko are all examples of consummate artistic inspiration harnessed to building technology in the service of authority (Figure 1.1). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
forked finials, periodic rebuilding, architectural authority, bijutsu shuppan, warrior government, inner compound, official architecture, castle construction, bracket sets, gateway architecture, second compound, new government buildings, castle architecture, inner precinct, warrior power, government headquarters, inner shrine, shrine complex, imperial institution, periodic renewal, shrine buildings, extant buildings, court rank Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Tokyo Station, Nijo Castle, Azuchi Castle, Himeji Castle, Great Buddha, Outer Shrine, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Headquarters, Ministry of Education, Nijb Castle, World War, Edo Authority, Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute, Shrines of Ise, State Halls Compound, Battle of Sekigahara, Inner Tamagaki, Prime Minister, Tokyo Olympics, Assembly Building, Izumo Taisha, University of Tokyo, City Hall Tower, Great Tenshu, Imperial Audience Hall, Imperial College of Engineering New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The soaring silhouette of Himeji Castle, the graceful roof-lines of the Nara Buddhist temples and the ebullient decorated forms of the Tokugawa mausolea at Nikko are all examples of consummate artistic inspiration harnessed to building technology in the service of authority (Figure 1.1). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
forked finials, periodic rebuilding, architectural authority, bijutsu shuppan, warrior government, inner compound, official architecture, castle construction, bracket sets, gateway architecture, second compound, new government buildings, castle architecture, inner precinct, warrior power, government headquarters, inner shrine, shrine complex, imperial institution, periodic renewal, shrine buildings, extant buildings, court rank Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Tokyo Station, Nijo Castle, Azuchi Castle, Himeji Castle, Great Buddha, Outer Shrine, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Headquarters, Ministry of Education, Nijb Castle, World War, Edo Authority, Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute, Shrines of Ise, State Halls Compound, Battle of Sekigahara, Inner Tamagaki, Prime Minister, Tokyo Olympics, Assembly Building, Izumo Taisha, University of Tokyo, City Hall Tower, Great Tenshu, Imperial Audience Hall, Imperial College of Engineering New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 58
books:
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50
books
cite this book:
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- The Seven Lamps of Architecture (Dover Architecture) by John Ruskin on page 7, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Seven Lamps on page 7, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Japan Day by Day by Edward Morse in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Sources of Japanese Tradition, Volume One: From Earliest Times to 1600 (vol. 1) by Wm. Theodore de de Bary in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Medieval Japan: Essays in Institutional History by John Hall in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 58 books this book cites
- Chikubushima: Deploying the Sacred Arts in Momoyama Japan by Andrew M. Watsky on 4 pages
- Modern Japan: A Social and Political History (Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies) by Elise K. Tipton in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Green Politics in Japan (Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies) by Lam Peng-Er in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- The Conquest of Ainu Lands: Ecology and Culture in Japanese Expansion,1590-1800 by Brett L. Walker in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Earthquake Nation: The Cultural Politics of Japanese Seismicity, 1868-1930 by Gregory Clancey in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 50 books citing this book
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