This is another of the films from NHK on Buddhist Architecture in Japan, which this time focuses on the main temples in Kyoto.
The subtitle for the film is ‘Craftsmanship unites places of worship’, and the documentary looks at how these ancient, mainly wooden, temples have survived into the modern day through constant maintenance.
The film begins by discussing the migration of Buddhist architecture from India to China, and the remix it had there, before being exported to Japan, where it underwent further modifications.
There is also an interesting discussion of the symbology of the traditional 7-structure plan for the Japanese temple and how it is implemented.
In the latter half of the film we see how traditional temple arts and crafts are still being handed down from generation to generation, and precautions are being taken to preserve materials into the future.
We therefore get to see experts in carpentry, joinery and thatch making who are all making their contributions to the preservation of their Japanese Buddhist Heritage.
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