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Japanese architecture popularity in west because promotes harmony with nature?
I am writing a research paper for an Asian art class and have had a hard time finding core studies or books that can help strengthen my argument. I am approaching this paper from an anthropological view-point by stating that Japanese architecture is popular because it promotes a long-lost value in the west pertaining to harmony with nature. The culture and lifestyle of the modern human encompasses grids of cement and small areas where one is to remain in order to complete a specific task. Traditional Japanese architecture promotes open spaces, versatility of space, and congruence with the surroundings. These elements are from the East and based on culture and religion of those countries (Japan primarily, but Korea as well and earlier China), not European culture. My point is that in the 1960s when Japanese architecture first became popular, it was a time of revolution and of reconnecting with nature. Then again in the late 90s / early 00s, after the dot coms burst, the complexity of the system had us searching for harmony with the surroundings and ourselves; which Japanese architecture promotes.... I'm sounding like a broken record now. I have heard many arguments about the unfulfilled need to be in harmony with nature that the modern human has, but I have found little written work that I can use as a source. I would appreciate any sources, be it from an architectural point-of-view, psychological, sociological, behavioural biology, or anthropological point-of-view. I was hoping to use Yi-Fu Tuan's "Place and Space" as the core for my paper, but I haven't found the book anywhere (and it's too late and not worth the money to order online at this point). I would really appreciate it if someone could point me towards sources that will give me some tangible information pertaining to my thesis.
Public Comments
- Sounds like an interesting paper. Most of my university books are in storage so i cannot give you specific titles. Architecture as we all know is all about space and how you feel in that space. What emotions are evoked there. Do you feel energized or stressed or relaxed or agitated. I would concentrate on the Japanese tea gardens. How the stepping stones to the actual tea hut graduate so that the cares and stresses of the world vanish slowly as you make your way slowly to the hut. They often have stones that are larger at the beginning and become smaller and more difficult to walk on . One must concentrate on the moment in time. Focus on the walking at hand and not any problems of the day. In that way you start to go into more of a Zen world and relax. The sounds are also important -- chimes, leaves in the breezes and hearing them in the quiet environment. The shade of the pagoda over the hut to create an oasis of time stopped. All to create a solitude and tranquility and a harmony of nature and architecture. Hope this helps .
