“Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings” is a detailed and
succinct introduction to traditional Japanese architecture from the
perspective of a westerner in the late 19th century. It
is a wonderful read for anyone who is interested in traditional
Japanese design and culture. It was first published in 1886 after
Morse had already lived in Japan for almost a decade. He was
studying brachiopods in 1877 when he was invited to join the faculty
in the Zoology department at the Imperial University of Tokyo. Using
his analytical and observational skills which he developed as a scientist, he
began collecting cultural artifacts and making detailed sketches and
observations of Japanese homes. This work features over 300 sketches
with elaborate descriptions. His somewhat exhaustive descriptions
almost always highlight the simplicity and elegance of Japanese
culture while simultaneously ripping apart the indulgence of his own
culture. Aside from his constant comically snarky remarks, his work
takes the reader to Japan in 1880 and guides you through various
homes.
The book was lent to me when I was working on the design phase of the
tiny home. I wanted to write a review and share about it because it
was a really wonderful accompaniment to the building process. I was
constantly drawing sketches of Morse's sketches and referencing
design elements. I learned all kinds of interesting things about
Japan, including the fact that one's garden is apart of their estate
and when you move you take all your plants with you, including 40 ft
trees. It was not uncommon to see people dragging trees down the
street in sacks! When you kick the bucket they auction off all your
plants so they literally come in the yard and dig up the the plants
and sell them off to your neighbors.
The importance of the design style of the Japanese is the utilization
of the available resources. The Japanese carpenter was armed with
only a few sharp tools and a supreme appreciation for the
asymmetrical.
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