Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture　Preface　Recommendation　

Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture
『Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture　Volume 3』 -Sourcebooks of Japanese temples and shrines- Supervised by Atsushi Kobata / Akira Naito Written by Katsuhiri Kawata Product Dimensions：31.3cm×22.3cm Hardcover 870 pages Price：\91,670 Dear customer, Please contact us by E-mail to order or ask questions. We are glad to answer you soon and reply the shipping fee to your country. Publisher DAIRYUDO SHOTEN Co. Ltd. Yutaka Yamagishi
『Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture　Volume 5』 -Sourcebooks of Japanese guest rooms- Supervised by Atsushi Kobata / Akira Naito Written by Mariko Okamoto Product Dimensions：31.3cm×22.3cm Hardcover 775 pages Price：\48,000 Dear customer, Please contact us by E-mail to order or ask questions. We are glad to answer you soon and reply the shipping fee to your country. Publisher DAIRYUDO SHOTEN Co. Ltd. Yutaka Yamagishi
『Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture　Volume 8』 -Sourcebooks of Japanese building construction- Supervised by Atsushi Kobata / Akira Naito Written by Shigeru Wakayama / Kazuyoshi Fumoto Product Dimensions：31.3cm×22.3cm Hardcover 870 pages Price：\89,000 Dear customer, Please contact us by E-mail to order or ask questions. We are glad to answer you soon and reply the shipping fee to your country. Publisher DAIRYUDO SHOTEN Co. Ltd. Yutaka Yamagishi
『Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture　Volume 9』 -Sourcebooks of Japanese patterns- Supervised by Atsushi Kobata / Akira Naito Written by Kazuyoshi Fumoto Product Dimensions：31.3cm×22.3cm Hardcover 870 pages Price：\91,670 Dear customer, Please contact us by E-mail to order or ask questions. We are glad to answer you soon and reply the shipping fee to your country. Publisher DAIRYUDO SHOTEN Co. Ltd. Yutaka Yamagishi
Preface
Atsushi Kobata a member of The Japan Academy Professor emeritus of Kyoto University	Akira Naito President of AICHI SANGYO UNIVERSITY Professor emeritus of Nagoya Institute of Technology Vice-President of Architectural Institute of Japan Vice-President of Society of Industrial Technological History of Japan
We are making a start. To create the true meaning for the brand new Architecture by separating clearly the whole architecture now from the past. In 1920, this famous declaration by the Architectural Secession of Japan completely denied the past Architecture; the Stylism. It is the beginning of the Modern Architecture movement and the Functionalism in Japan, which started regularly after the World War �U in 1975. However, ‘’The Great Master Age’’ has passed after international leaders such as Le Corbusier and Mies von der Rohe have led the architectural movements. This age, also named ‘‘the Modernism’’, is just a historical phenomenon throughout the long time history. Now, it is necessary for architects to understand the styles which manifest the culture based on the traditional climate. In other words, it is the most important lesson for ‘‘the Post Modernism’’ today. The researches about architectural archives which describe craft styles and techniques of Japanese traditional architecture like Kiwari or Kiku (the allotment of timber) are only referred by pieces, but not value the design theories historically. The classical archives of Japanese architecture, unlike those by Vitruvius in Western, aren’t recognized as the source of either the intelligence on architectural thoughts and philosophies, or the cultural value on expressions of the sensitivity. Although the safeguard of traditional scenery and the formation of typical Japanese inhabited environment are advocated all over this country, the practical books which introduce only the superficial ‘Japanese Style’ spread disregarding the historical background. I don’t think this situation is good. ‘Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture’ purposes to compile the real classic architectural archives, considering the present situation on Japanese architecture. It is the basic material which concretely surveys the future image of Japanese architecture in 21th century, also introducing the results of our researches.
Recommendation
[To know the legitimation of Japanese architecture] the late Hiroshi Ohe The former President of The Japan Institute of Architects A former member of The Japan Art Academy
Since the Modern Architecture movement started, ‘Japanese Style’ has never been such topic as today. Probably it is because architects are seriously anxious about losing the delicate consciousness of Japanese Style day by day. I have made much of the formality of architecture such as the space of Shoin for a long time. Therefore, I’m sure that architects brought up in the Modern Architecture Age should succeed to the legitimation of Japanese architecture much more sincerely. If the historical manner of Japanese architecture is inherited only as the techniques of repair, it could be a dying tradition. It is quite timely now that ‘’Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture’’ is planned to issue, is supervised the compilation by Dr. Atsushi Kobata (the former President of Society of Old Documents of Japan) and is zealously published by Akira Niatoh (Professor of Nagoya Institute of Technology). It’s too late for us to arrange systematically the legitimate techniques and thoughts of Japanese architecture, and to introduce them to the public for the first time. It is necessary for all who create the coming architectural field, furthermore Japanese culture, to read this library with appreciation, in order to realize the archives of Japanese classic architecture and to create active traditions in the future.
[Open up ‘the way’ of craftmen] the late Tatsuzaburo Hayashiya A member of The Japan Academy Professor emeritus of Kyoto University
During the Middle Ages in Japan, the ancient traditional public entertainments and techniques were perfectly systematized through creative activities by those who were engaged in them. In the Modern Era, these public entertainments and techniques were handed down as ‘the way’. We know what the way is about traditional public entertainments such as Cha (tea ceremony) and Hana (flower arrangement) very well, and the situation is the same about architecture. It is the way of Takumi, restricted in architecture, the way of Kosho (craftmen), which is common to those who were widely called craftmen in those old days. But people didn’t pay much attention to it, because many of the authorities of the way were kept secret. For example, they are architectural patterns such as temple and shrine, residence, and Sukiya (tastefully-designed cottage), furthermore other patterns like small tool, compass and square, and joint. Especially, Kaso (aspect of a house) has been handed down as the secret in the Modern Era. This library which consists of ten volumes records the whole Japanese Architectural Classic and is opened to the public for the first time. It is a very important publishing work, which not only contributes to the spread and preservation of the traditional architectural technique but also establishes the way of Kosho (craftmen) based on the classic about the researches of the cultural history. Moreover, because this library is strictly edited by Dr. Atsushi Kobata and Dr. Akira Naito who I respect most, the content is highly reliable. Therefore I recommend this not only to architectural historians but also to all those who are interested in the Japanese culture, especially in the lifestyle of Japanese housing as well as food and clothing.
[Taking a lesson from the past] the late Kiyoshi Seike The former President of Architectural Institute of Japan The former Dean of the faculty of fine arts of Tokyo University of the Arts Professor emeritus of Tokyo Institute of Technology
Genesis says ‘So God created man in his own image….’. God modeled the shape of man on his own appearance, in other words, plagiarized his own figure. Even God imitated his own appearance as a result of inquiring into the reliable classic when he designed the shape and figure. The Chinese myths say the Emperor Dayu controlled the Yellow River by following ‘Kato Rakusho (books of the principle of Yin and Yang)’ given by God. They say the Emperor Dayu referred to ‘Kato Rakusho’ to solve the problem of landslide and flood in chaos. It is the origin of the word: To-Sho (figure and text meaning books). Even God in Genesis and the Emperor Dayu in Ancient China needed the reliable image based on his own experiences to design the essential real shape and figure. Still more, it is natural that ordinary designers or architects like us have difficulty in designing the shape on considering the concept. In this case, the classic, especially the shape and figure which our predecessors left to us, is the source of new shape. Surely, ‘’Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture’’ which can survey the compilation of Japanese Architectural Classic, gives us the basic materials of our designing. It creates the new image of Japanese Architecture, that is to say, we are taking a lesson from the past.
[The standard to observe the future architecture] the late Mitsukuni Yoshida Professor emeritus of Kyoto University The former President of Society of Industrial Technological History of Japan
Among the technical histories in Japan, architectural history has developed in its original way from early times, and a lot of achievements have been piled up. But unexpectedly, I think various architectural archives left to us by the past craftmen have never been researched enough. In the West, ‘On Architecture’ written by Vitruvius has been researched a lot, and the method of construction in China also has been a few. However concerning architectural archives in Japan, there are some technical researches about Kiwari or Kiku (the allotment of timber) but few references about the abundant designs or plans. This is why many classic archives haven’t been published to the public, so scholars can’t reach them at all. Therefore, it is important that many significant historical documents should be supplied widely. ‘’Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture’’ planned to publish this time, has extremely significant meaning to make up for this deficiency. This publication on architectural classic from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era is expected to play a most important role in the future development of architectural history in Japan. Moreover each volume is written by those researchers who are active in the forefront. As a result, the library sets up the important standard of not only the past of architecture but also the future. I am glad to publish it and hope to succeed.
[To consider about the perspective of Japanese architecture] the late Eizo Inagaki Professor of Meiji University The former representative of Society of Architectural Historians of Japan Professor emeritus of Tokyo University
Except some experts, there is only less chance for ordinary persons to read most of the architectural archives which were written during the late Middle Ages and the Modern Era. At first, these archives were regarded as secret and were never allowed to be known about from others, but in the middle of the 17th century, parts of them were published. However people took no notice of these archives, the thinkable reason is that most of these contents were edited to enlighten techniques, and there was nothing to do with those who weren’t engaged in architectural design and construction work. These architectural archives were written after Japanese Architecture reached the stage of completion and stability on both technical and design level. In other words, architectural technique was never transmitted to except those who experienced it before, but now it could reach the intellectual level and be systematized by text. As a whole, we can read not only the system of Japanese architectural technique but also the ideal of architecture, the attitude to technique and the pride of their job which craftmen considered in those days. Moreover we can perceive the reflection of changes in the craftmen society. This time, ‘’Sourcebooks of Japanese Architecture’’ compiled and interpreted by Dr. Atsushi Kobata and Dr. Akira Naito, consists of five hundred revised architectural archives, and moreover some research papers are added in it. I’m glad to know that the results of researches on architectural archives by Dr. Akira Naito are added in the rare library and published to the world. Such a compiled library as this will advance further than just a technical textbook, and also give us a good chance to think of the perspective of architectural technique in Japan,

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