Japanese Folk Houses
by Wajiro Kon
Author: Wajirō Kon (今和次郎)
Publisher: Sagami Shobō (相模書房)
Publication year: 1971
Edition: Fourth
Binding: Hardcover with protective slipcase
CONDITION:
Very Good (VG). The covers and boards present in very good condition, showing minor rubbing. The spine and hinges and joints are both well-preserved in very good condition. Endpapers remain in very good condition. The text block and pages are graded as fine, featuring crisp leaves. Included extras (slipcase / box) are in good condition, showing minor rubbing and scuffing.
ATTRIBUTES:
Fourth edition. Illustrated edition. Hardcover. No dust jacket. In slipcase. Bound in cloth over boards.
DESCRIPTION:
Japanese Folk Houses explores the traditional vernacular architecture of Japan, focusing on the historical dwellings created by rural craftsmen and farmers. The book examines the structural integrity, regional variations, and functional beauty of these indigenous buildings, highlighting how material constraints and environmental factors shaped their design. Through detailed analysis and visual documentation, the text captures a rapidly disappearing architectural heritage that prioritizes harmony with nature and communal living.
Authored by Prof. Kon-Wajiro, a pioneering Japanese architect and folklorist, the work reflects his lifelong dedication to studying everyday material culture and modernology. Kon was instrumental in documenting the lifestyle and built environment of ordinary citizens, bridging the gap between academic research and public appreciation of traditional Japanese life.
This volume holds significant literary and historical value as a foundational study in Japanese vernacular architecture, preserving knowledge of building techniques that were vanishing during the post-war modernization period. For architectural historians, collectors of Japanese art and design, and enthusiasts of traditional craftsmanship, the book offers essential insights into an understated yet profoundly influential aspect of Japanese cultural history.
FLASHBACK TO 1971 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 1971, the world navigated the shadows of the receding Vietnam War while Tokyo witnessed the legendary scholar Kon Wajirō observing the rapid modernization of his city just months before his death. In science and culture, Intel introduced the 4004 microprocessor that launched the digital age, and the exhibition of newly unearthed Mawangdui Han dynasty tombs in China captivated antiquarians worldwide.
Page Count: 323
Location: LIB-081