依水園は世界遺産の東大寺近隣に位置し、園内を回遊しながら風情ある景色が楽しめる日本庭園です。
Isuien is the Japanese garden to be situated on the Todai-ji Temple vicinity at the world’s cultural and natural heritage for and for it to be able to enjoy scenery with taste in the park while migrating.
Photos of buildings in Tokyo Jan. 2008
A video description of an exciting public building in Kyoto, Japan. The Muse Concert Hall transforms the typical fire egress requirement and makes it the social focus among concert-goers. Unfortunately, architect’s name could not be found.
Video footage from March 2006.
Himeji Castle, built in the early 17th century, represents the highest achievement in Japanese castle architecture.
Designated as a national treasure in 1931, the castle was registered as the World Cultural Heritage in 1993 as the first cultural site in Japan. The registration occurred because the castle has kept its original design at the time of construction, such as turrets, stone walls, gates, and moats, which still survive today. The main castle keep (Dai-ten-shu) connected with three small keeps (Ko-tenshu) linked by passage turrets (Watari yagura) remains perfectly in their original forms. Because of its elegant appearance totally covered with white plaster,the castle has been compared to a white bird flying off to the sky. Its famous nickname is White Heron Castle. Take enough time to tour around the castle.
Train video. Shikoku Island, Japan. Leaving a town, on the way to Matsuyama, morning at 11 am, April 11, 2008. Beautiful side view of out of the beaten track Japan. Japanese countryside view. Small houses architecture. Zen images of Japan countryside
Description
Antique Japanese ceramic roof tile decorated with swirling comma pattern. Roof tiles are called Kawara in Japan where they are used not only to protect a home from the elements but also as important architectural ornaments. Roof eves are sometimes decorated with special pendant tiles called nokimarugawara which feature a circular disk attached to a half-round tile. The disk (gatou) will often feature an image such as a household seal (kamon) or an image though to act as a protective charm. Decorated roof tiles often feature images associated with water, as such images were once thought to provide protection against the dangers of fire. An especially important water symbol was the swirling tomoe pattern. The basic tomoe design originated in China and has been used in Japan since at least the Yayoi period (300 B.C.-300 A.D.). The pattern always includes one or more comma-shaped swirls oriented in a right or left facing pattern. This image is thought to symbolize water as the Chinese character used to write this name translates as either “whirlpool” or “eddy”. The tomoe design has spiritual connotations as well and is frequently seen on religious implements and used with temple and shrine architecture.
About the Listed Item
The tomoe design on this particular nokimarugawara-style gatou is a three comma, right-facing pattern called migifutatsudomoe in Japanese. The tile is poor to fair condition with chips, marks and scratches as well as evidence of outdoor exposure and weathering. The tile dates from the mid Japanese Showa period (1926-1989) or earlier and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.
Size (approximate):
Diameter: 4.5 inches (11.5 centimeters)
Depth: 1.6 inches (4.0 centimeters)
Weight: 20.1 ounces (599 grams)
Important Note:
Please be sure to note the shipping cost for this large and heavy item. Shipment is via international Express Mail Service (EMS) which includes a tracking number and full value insurance.
More about Japanese roof tiles
Tiled roofs (hongawarabuki) are a distinguishing feature of most Japanese homes, as well as Buddhist temples, Shinto (native religion of Japan) shrines and many other types of old buildings. Kawara is the word the Japanese use to describe roof tiles in general, though there are in fact many styles and types of tiles with regional variations, and a large and specialized vocabulary is used to describe these. Japanese roof tiles are typically very well made and often outlive their intended function protecting structures from the elements. As a result, old roof tiles can sometimes be spotted in Japan being reused for unique and interesting purposes. Old roof tiles are sometimes used to reinforce earthen retaining walls, or stacked one next to another to make garden borders. Roof tiles are also buried vertically along dirt walkways with just the tips exposed a fraction of an inch above the surface to create artistic patterns and to act as paving surfaces. Decorative end caps called onigawara (ogre tiles) look especially nice as accent pieces within the home or on patios and especially when positioned amidst garden foliage.
item code: R1S5-0005770
ship code: G3
The castle with a narration about it’s history. Those of you not into japanese history, architecture, or buddhism will be bored.
Description
Antique Japanese ceramic roof tile decorated with swirling comma pattern. Roof tiles are called Kawara in Japan where they are used not only to protect a home from the elements but also as important architectural ornaments. Roof eves are sometimes decorated with special pendant tiles called nokimarugawara which feature a circular disk attached to a half-round tile. The disk (gatou) will often feature an image such as a household seal (kamon) or an image though to act as a protective charm. Decorated roof tiles often feature images associated with water, as such images were once thought to provide protection against the dangers of fire. An especially important water symbol was the swirling tomoe pattern. The basic tomoe design originated in China and has been used in Japan since at least the Yayoi period (300 B.C.-300 A.D.). The pattern always includes one or more comma-shaped swirls oriented in a right or left facing pattern. This image is thought to symbolize water as the Chinese character used to write this name translates as either “whirlpool” or “eddy”. The tomoe design has spiritual connotations as well and is frequently seen on religious implements and used with temple and shrine architecture.
About the Listed Item
The tomoe design on this particular nokimarugawara-style gatou is a three comma, right-facing pattern called migifutatsudomoe in Japanese. The tile is missing its rear (non-ornamental) section as well as roughly half of its original border section. The tile has additional chips and has been subject to a good deal of outdoor exposure and weathering, creating a beautiful natural patina of age. The tile dates from the mid Japanese Showa period (1926-1989) or earlier and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.
Size (approximate):
Diameter: 4.8 inches (12.3 centimeters)
Depth: 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters)
Weight: 9.4 ounces (268 grams)
More about Japanese roof tiles
Tiled roofs (hongawarabuki) are a distinguishing feature of most Japanese homes, as well as Buddhist temples, Shinto (native religion of Japan) shrines and many other types of old buildings. Kawara is the word the Japanese use to describe roof tiles in general, though there are in fact many styles and types of tiles with regional variations, and a large and specialized vocabulary is used to describe these. Japanese roof tiles are typically very well made and often outlive their intended function protecting structures from the elements. As a result, old roof tiles can sometimes be spotted in Japan being reused for unique and interesting purposes. Old roof tiles are sometimes used to reinforce earthen retaining walls, or stacked one next to another to make garden borders. Roof tiles are also buried vertically along dirt walkways with just the tips exposed a fraction of an inch above the surface to create artistic patterns and to act as paving surfaces. Decorative end caps called onigawara (ogre tiles) look especially nice as accent pieces within the home or on patios and especially when positioned amidst garden foliage.
item code: R1S5-00005635
ship code: G3
A group of Japanese professionals came to Colorado to study green building architecture, local sustainability programs and low-water landscaping. Here are some of the highlights.
New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy the work of Japanese architect Tadao Ando in this restaurant at 88, 10th Avenue (16th Street). The food is also great!
