Soul nurturing in the vernacular architecture of Japan

Abstract

This thesis addresses the need for nurturing the human soul in the manmade environment.

Qualities definable as nurturing to the human soul were selected from research writings in psychology, specifically those of Carl Jung, James Hillman, and Thomas Moore. Of the varied forms of soul care, four qualities were selected (for this study) based on their applicability to the built environment. The four qualities include Religion, Orientation, Beauty, and Solitude.

The traditional Japanese family dwelling, minka, was selected for studying the possible forms and manifestations of these four qualities in the manmade environment. In the minka, Religion was revealed in its varied aspects including Gods, sacred reality, personification, symbols, myths, religious rituals and practices. The quality of Orientation was defined by Vernacular and Cosmic dimensions of space and time: vernacular orientation was provided by the vernacular nature of the minka; cosmic space was perceived through symbolic representation; and cosmic time was manifested by the celebration of seasonal festivals. Beauty, in the form of fine arts and crafts, was revealed in the nature and purpose of the tokonoma and the daily household chores. And Solitude was revealed by the harmony perceivable in the living environment by the human senses of sight, sound, touch, and smell.

Thus, throughout the minka, the four soul-nurturing qualities were present either as direct expressions of the built environment or as experiences resulting from human involvement and interaction with the built environment.

Analysis of the minka environment was used to draw conclusions fo1 contemporary living environments.