Sign in or 
Share this
Extras
TODAI-JI TEMPLE
Todai-Ji (東大寺), The Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist Temple in Nara, Japan. Reputedly the largest wooden building in the world, it houses a giant statue of The Buddha Vairocana (Jp. Dainichi; it means 'Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun'), known in Japanese simply as the Daibutsu (大仏, "great Buddha"). The temple also serves as the Japanese Headquarters Of The Kegon School of Buddhism. Sika Deer, themselves officially protected as National Treasures and regarded as messengers of the gods by Shinto, roam the grounds freely and are not afraid of humans.
IMPERIAL PALACE
The Kōkyo (皇居, Kōkyo?) is The Imperial Palace of Japan and the residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is located in Maronouchi Chiyoda, Tokyo.
After the Meiji Restoration and the resignation of Tokigawa Yoshinobu, the last Tokugawa Shogun, the Imperial Court moved from Kyoto to Tokyo and the Former Tokugawa Stronghold Of Edo Castle became the residence of the Emperor. From 1888 to 1948, it was called Kyūjō (宮城, "Palace Castle").
It was destroyed during the Second World War by bombing, but was rebuilt in the same style in 1968.
Most of the palace is generally off-limits to the public, but the East Gardens are usually accessible to tourists. The inner palace is open to the public on only two days during each year, the Emperor's Birthday and at The New Year (January 2). The Kōkyo is close to Tokyo station.
The buildings of The Imperial Palace were constructed by Takenaka Corporation.
NAGOYA CASTLE
Nagoya Castle (名古屋城, Nagoya-jō?) is located in Nagoya Aichi, Japan. Imagawa Ujichika built the original castle around 1525. Oda Nobuhide took it from Imagawa Ujitoyo in 1532, but later abandoned it.
In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the various Daimyo to help with the building of a new castle on the site. The castle's construction was completed in 1612. Until the Meiji Era, the castle was the home of the Owari Clan of the Tokugawa family.
On top of the castle are two golden imaginary tiger-headed fish , called Kinshachi (金鯱 Kin No Shachihōko); this motif is used as a talisman for fire prevention. They are said to be a symbol of The Feudal Lord's authority. Both Kinshachi were temporarily lowered from atop the castle and displayed on the castle grounds, and briefly at the site of the Expo 2005 from March 19th until June 19th of 2005, and were restored to the castle on July 9th the same year. As preparation for the World Expo plaques with English were added to most displays as well as a 3D movie showing the paintings in Hommaru Palace. During World War II, the castle was burnt to the ground, and most of its artifacts were destroyed; many of the paintings inside, however, survived and have been preserved to this day. The rebuilding of the castle finished in 1959. Today the castle is a modern concrete building with airconditioning and elevators. In addition, there are plans to reconstruct the Hommaru Palace (本丸御殿 Hommaru Goten), which was also lost to fire during the war. Many of the paintings from this palace were also rescued, and replicas of these paintings will be placed in their appropriate locations within the restored palace. Until then, many of the objects formerly in the Hommaru as well as replicas of sliding Shoji doors and the reconstructed No stage can be seen in the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya.
HIMEJI CASTLE
Himeji Castle (Japanese: 姫路城; -jō) is a Japanese Castle located in Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture. It is one of the oldest surviving structures from medieval Japan, and was registered as the first Japanese National Cultural Treasure by UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Japanese National Cultural Treasure in December, 1993. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan's "Three Famous Castles", and is the most visited castle in Japan. It is occasionally known as Hakurojō or Shirasagijō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior.
Himeji Castle frequently appears on Japanese television. Edo Castle (the present Kokyo) does not have a keep, so when a fictional show such as Aberenbo shogun needs a magnificent substitute, the producers turn to Himeji.
KINKAKU-JI
Kinkaku-Ji (金閣寺, Kinkaku-Ji? Golden Pavilion Temple) is the name of one of the buildings in the Rokuon-Ji (鹿苑寺 Deer Garden Temple) in Kyoto, Japan, and is the main attraction of The Temple Grounds. The Golden Pavilion (formally called 'Shariden') was originally built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It was his son who converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school. The temple was burned down several times during the Onin War. Yoshimitsu's grandson used Kinkaku-Ji as the inspiration for Ginkaku-ji, a Buddhist temple, which he intended to cover in silver.
The entire pavilion except the basement floor is covered with pure gold leaf. The pavilion functions as a Shariden, housing relics of the Buddha. On the roof of the pavilion is a golden Fenghuang or "Chinese phoenix".
In 1950, the temple was burned down by a mentally disturbed monk; a fictionalized version of the events is at the center of Yukio Mishima's 1956 book The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. The present structure dates from 1955. Recently, the coating of Japanese lacquer was found a little decayed and a new coating as well as gilding with gold-leaf, much thicker than the original coatings was completed in 1987. Additionally, the interior of the building, including the paintings were also restored. Finally, the roof was restored in 2003.
The land where the Golden Pavilion sits was used in the 1220s as a villa for Kintsune Saionji. The pond near the Golden Pavilion is called Kyōko-chi (Mirror Pond).
MOUNT. FUJI
Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-San?, IPA: [ɸɯʥisaɴ]) is The Highest Mountain in Japan. It straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo, from where it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshu. Three small cities surround it, they are: Gotemba (East), Fuji-Yoshida (North) and Fujinomiya (Southwest).
Mount Fuji is a well-known symbol of Japan and is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers.
AIZUWAKAMATSU CASTLE
Aizuwakamatsu Castle (会津若松城, Aizuwakamatsu-Jō?), also known as Tsuruga Castle (鶴ヶ城 Tsuruga-Jō) is a traditional fortress in northern Japan, at the center of the town of Aizuwakamatsu, in Fukushima Prefecture.
EDO CASTLE
Edo Castle (江戸城 -Jō) was built in 1457 by Ota Dokan in what is now the Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo, but was then known as Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa Shogunate here, and as the residence of the shogun and location of the Bakufu, it functioned as the military capital during the Edo Period of Japanese history. Along with the Meiji Restoration, it became the residence of the Emperor of Japan, or in Japanese Kokyo. Some moats, walls and ramparts survive. However, during the Edo period, the grounds were much more extensive, with Tokyo Station and the Marunouchi section of the city lying within the outermost moat. It also encompassed Kita-No-Maru Park, the Nippon Budokan Hall and other landmarks of the area.
Fukuyama Castle
Coming Soon...!
Angemon102 |
Latest page update: made by Angemon102
, Jun 29 2007, 5:06 PM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by Angemon102
62 words added 60 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
|
Keyword tags:
None
More Info: links to this page
|
There are no threads for this page.
Be the first to start a new thread.
