Investigation into the Architectural Design of a Traditional Japanese Wooden Pagoda

• Published in: Journal of Asian architecture and building engineering Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 241 - 246
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yijie, Tang, Hesheng, Xue, Songtao, Xun, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Science and Technology Agency 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Architecture; Asian; Buildings; Design engineering; Emergence; Modules; Specific lengths; Temples
• ISSN: 1346-7581; 1347-2852
• DOI: 10.3130/jaabe.14.241

Kiwarihou is a well-known traditional architectural design method for traditional Japanese wooden buildings. This article presents an investigation into the architectural design of a traditional Japanese wooden pagoda (three-storied pagoda in Joruriji temple) from the perspective of Kiwarihou. The pagoda in Joruriji temple was originally built around 1178, which was the right period for the emergence and development of Kiwarihou. Based on an extensive survey on the sizes of this pagoda, this paper explores the probable content of the Kiwarihou architectural design method. Investigative results showed that the sizes of nearly every aspect of this pagoda are either multiples or fractions of a specific length (the module). These encouraging results demonstrated that Kiwarihou had already been well developed during this three-storied pagoda period, and this three-storied pagoda is a typical example of Kiwarihou.