It is a temple related to Prince Shotoku in Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture. Needless to say, it is the oldest wooden building in the world and is a World Heritage Site. In addition to its majesty, if you look at Horyuji Temple with the following three points in mind, you should be able to experience its splendor even more.
- Uses hinoki cypress, which boasts the highest level of durability and storage
It uses hinoki cypress, which has a mysterious characteristic that is unthinkable in other construction materials, that is, its strength increases for 200 years after logging. Among them, Horyuji Temple uses high-quality hinoki cypress, which is over 1000 years old and has tight annual rings.
A palace carpenter has lived on the west side of Horyuji Temple for generations and has been repairing and inspecting it. It is said that it was in a state. - Building structure that is easy to repair
Due to the high temperature and humidity in Japan, wooden structures are always at risk of deterioration due to decay, ant damage, rain and wind, etc., but most of the repairs at Horyuji Temple required replacement at the end. The original wood can be left in the skeleton and inside. In other words, it is probable that Japanese wooden structures were built for later dismantling and repair when they were first built. - A soft traditional construction method that does not resist the providence of nature
Each layer of the five layers becomes thinner toward the top, and each floor is independent except for the pillar called the Shinbashira in the center, and the circumference of the Shinbashira is a colonnade, which does not support the load of each floor. The building built around the pillar is designed so that when an external force such as a wind or an earthquake is applied, the building sways like a wave of vibration, disperses the force and does not collapse. I can’t help but be surprised to find that the idea is close to the architectural theory of current skyscrapers.
