Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARCHITECTURE
Temples
Temples (
tera
or
ji
) vary widely in their construction, depending on the type of school and
historical era of construction. From the introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century until
the Middle Ages, temples were the most important architectural works in Japan, and hence
exerted a strong stylistic influence on all other types of building.
DAMIEN DOUXCHAMPS / LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©
Evolution of Temple Design
There were three main styles of early temple architecture:
tenjiku yō
(Indian),
karayō
(Chinese) and
wayō
(Japanese). All three styles were in fact introduced to Japan via China.
