Japanese architectural craft approved as UNESCO intangible heritage

Japanese architectural craft approved as UNESCO intangible heritage

Ironic to so honor a country that has engaged in the wholesale destruction of its own architectural heritage.

Such structures include Horyuji, a World Heritage Buddhist temple said to have been built in 607. The building in the western prefecture of Nara is the world's oldest surviving wooden structure.

Right, and the company that built these structures, Kongo-Gumi, once the oldest company in the world had Korean immigrants that brought their knowledge here to Japan! They specialize in building Buddhist temples!

Japanese construction company that was the world's oldest continuously ongoing independent company, operating for 1,427 years. In January 2006, it became a subsidiary of Takamatsu and lost its independence.

> Headquartered in Osaka, the once family-owned construction company traced its origins to 578 AD when one of the skilled Korean immigrants,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong%C5%8D_Gumi

Good for Japan. Once this disaster is over this award should boost tourism, both foreign and domestic, even more.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a statement that he "truly rejoices" at the UNESCO listing.

The Japanese and their FETISH for UNESCO. Pfffff

Rejoice PM. Rejoice

Cause its not like there are any more pressing matters at hand..oh wait

does it stop demolition if a building has these?

the centuries-old techniques are still indispensable today to enhance the resilience of old buildings to earthquakes and typhoons. 

That just isn't true. The adoption of western technology, composite materials and techniques have made buildings in Japan way more resilient to natural disasters. In the Kobe earthquake, for example, the traditional wooden homes with the heavy tiled roofs and light foundations were flattened and caused huge numbers of deaths.

Some of the techniques of woodcraft in construction are truly wonderful.

Not so far from me is a 5 story pagoda built without nailing of any sorts and it's interlocking joints are a fascinating study in the art of master carpentry.

In addition it has a built-in weight counterbalance system to ameliorate the effects of earthquakes.

To date it has stood for centuries.

But I also agree that there is a bit of an obsession in Japan with "grading" everything, whether it be a 5 yr olds scholastic ability to a go players ranking to world heritage status for "things".

Not everything needs to be so measured.

Agree with the sentiment here, Japan has a perverse obsession with heritage sites not seen in any other country. And woodworking? Are you kidding me lol? Just mark the entire country as a heritage site jeez

The utter contempt shown for Japan and the Japanese in most of the comments here makes me wonder what accomplishments those posting can claim for themselves and their countries.

My father was a carpenter. I worked with him on construction sites until I went off to college. Even now, a half century later, I always stop to look at residential construction sites. Not many use traditional techniques, but when you find one, the craftsmanship is extraordinary.

Aside from regular repair works, some shinto shrines hold a unique tradtion called sengu 遷宮, periodic relocaiton of structures (in every 20 years for Ise Shrine, for example). The practice of scraping and (re) building seems to have successfully kept and transfered the architectural craftsmanship for over centuries. It is a dynamic continuity.

Modern Japanese houses are constructed inside factories and then transported to the site enabling erection within 2-3 months which is fast by any countries standard.

I may be wrong, but I'm not sure this UNESCO award covers pre-fab houses?

Calm yourselves down. Japan's not even in the top ten for UNESCO W.H. sites. Although it has the second most intangible cultural heritage assets, that number lags way behind China in first place, and is only one to four ahead of the next four in line.

There is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage, as long as you don't think it makes your people better than anyone else's people. Mocking that pride just makes people seem very petty, even jealous.

 Just mark the entire country as a heritage site jeez

Seems like that's exactly what they're trying to do

jpn_guy

I asked no question. I gave some facts, and my opinion, and I am not arguing with myself at all :D

I don't see anything in this article or generally in the pleasure at receiving these awards, that indicate feelings of superiority.

Elsewhere, I may or may not, but that's irrelevant. More than half of the comments here are negative, for no good reason.

Many temples, including Kinkakuji, were built without nails. That's impressive. Well done Japan. :)

Well deserved world heritage listing! The Japanese craftsmanship for wooden constructions is amazing. And still used to some extent in ordinary homes as well!

I was looking at some photos of Kyoto over ten years ago. Visited there a few weeks ago. Most of the unique buildings I photographed are gone.