A dictionary of architecture and building : biographical, historical, and descriptive . of the fact that they were built ofwood and that thirteen centuries have passedsince their erection, three of the first architec-tural works of this great Buddhist mission stillremain, uncliangcd in all essential rcsjiects, theHondo, (ro-ju-to, and Tu-mon of the monasteryof Horiuji at Nara. This monastery was thecentre from which was to go forth the extraor-dinary influence that within the space of acentuiy was to change a barbarous people intoa civilized nation. The buildings were begunin the year 593 by K
A dictionary of architecture and building : biographical, historical, and descriptive . of the fact that they were built ofwood and that thirteen centuries have passedsince their erection, three of the first architec-tural works of this great Buddhist mission stillremain, uncliangcd in all essential rcsjiects, theHondo, (ro-ju-to, and Tu-mon of the monasteryof Horiuji at Nara. This monastery was thecentre from which was to go forth the extraor-dinary influence that within the space of acentuiy was to change a barbarous people intoa civilized nation. The buildings were begunin the year 593 by Korean architects, in thefully developed style that for many years hadexpressed in China the extraordinary refinementand delicate civilization that raised her at thistime to a lieight that probably had no rivalelsewhere. Korea had but recently felt thespiritual and intellectual influence of Cliina,and it is quite probable that the art which shein turn handed over to Japan was in manyways inferior to that of the great centre ofOriental culture. This can never be known,624 PLATE XXIII. JAPAN, ARCHITECTURE OF. PLATE I Pagoda of Yakusliiji near Nani. Built 680 , are modern. The ancient cnnstraction, entirely «fby Japanese architects. Unique example of design. wood, is )>artly explained by the cuts of the HuriujiThe struts giving additional support to the roofs pagoda, given in the text. JAPAN for every vestige of eontemporary arcliiteetiirelias vanished from Cliiiia itself, ami what wecan learii of its nature must he acquired fromthese inestimably precious buildings in Japan. The art of China in the sixth century wasthe result of a curious amalgamation of influ-ences. Hellenic art, into Asia Minor,and there becoming corrupted, had travelledthrough Persia to India. Here it found anative style struggling to express tlu- qualitiesof a new and powerful religion. Indian archi-tecture, and more particularly Indian sculpture,were keeidy affected by this new influence ; and
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