World Heritage Japanese Wooden Structure Tourism Forum in Los Angeles
JJapanese culture is said to be a “culture of wood” that nurtures forests and human beings. Wooden structures that have been designated as World Heritage sites exist in a wide area of Japan that extends 500 miles, from Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture in the east to Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture in the west.
Representative examples that may be cited are Horyu-ji Temple, Himeji-jo Castle and Nara’s cultural treasures that are just the start, with many World Heritage Wooden Structure sites still preserved in Japan. In comparison to this, in Europe and the United States, from olden times stone has been used for palaces and other buildings, which are preserved in great numbers, so this may be characterized as a “culture of stone.”
The traditional Japanese “culture of wood” has an international appeal, so a “World Heritage Wooden Structure Forum” was sponsored by the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. This forum was one part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan’s “Visit Japan Campaign,” and along with exploiting the appeal of the World Heritage Wooden Structure sites that the “culture of wood” represents, it was also held to introduce the charm of Japan in order to attract sightseeing visitors.
Beginning with images of the Japanese wooden structures that are part of the World Cultural Heritage, the keynote lecture was given by Dr. Nishimura Yukio, Professor of the Graduate School of Engineering of Tokyo University, who is a specialist in city design and who spoke about the special features and unique techniques used in wooden structures that have been designated as part of the World Cultural Heritage within Japan. In addition, cultural treasures in places such as Nara, Himeji, Ikaruga, Yoshino and Hatsukaichi that have been designated as World Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO like Horyu-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga-Taisha were introduced as “The Appeal of Japan’s World Heritage Wooden Structures.” A special lecture was given by Reverend Nakai Kyozen, Chief Priest of Kizo-in sub-temple of the Goji-in Temple of Mt. Omine, Yoshino on the “Shape and Heart of Yamabushi: Purifying the Heart in the Rigors of Nature.”
What are World Cultural Heritage Sites?
Taking this as an opportunity, the thinking began to spread that there are cultural treasures that human beings have created throughout history and natural resources of the earth that are irreplaceable treasures transcending international boundaries that should be protected. Then, in 1972, the 17th UNESCO General Assembly held in Paris adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Cultural Heritage Treaty). The World Cultural Heritage Treaty established standards for designating cultural and natural resources that are important. “Cultural Heritage” sites that have a value that should be protected for all humanity and “Natural Heritage” sites, as well as a combination of both cultural and natural heritage sites, “Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage” sites were recognized as worthy of inclusion in a “World Heritage List” where they would be registered when it was established.Countries that were signatories to the World Cultural Heritage Treaty recommended buildings among those that were protected by laws of those countries, to be designated Cultural and Natural Heritage sites and a World Heritage Committee would meet once a year to make judgments about them. In that way, the World Heritage List designation process was established. As of July 2006, the World Heritage List contained 830 designated items (644 Cultural Heritage sites, 162 Natural Heritage sites and 24 Mixed Heritage sites) that were registered. In addition, within the World Heritage List, those Cultural Heritage sites that are registered and facing imminent danger requiring emergency protection are designated as part of a “List of World Heritage in Danger.” That makes them eligible for emergency technical and financial aid for protection. There are 35 items registered on the “List of World Heritage in Danger.”
Japanese Cultural Heritage Sites
In 1993, the two sites, “Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area” and “Himeji-jo Castle,” as well as the two sites, the “Shirakami-Sanchi Mountain Range” and “Yakushima Island” were designated as Cultural and Natural Heritage sites respectively, and for the first time Japanese sites were given the designation of World Cultural Heritage sites. At the present time, there are ten Cultural Heritage sites and three Natural Heritage sites in Japan. The following are introductions to Himeji-jo Castle and Horyu-ji Temple that were first designated as World Cultural Heritage sites in 1993.Himeji-jo Castle, already designated as a national treasure by the Japanese government, was inducted into the World Cultural Heritage class by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) together with Horyu-ji Temple in December 1993, representing Japan for the first time. The castle possesses not only a graceful appearance, which gave it a nickname of the “White Heron Castle,” but also had a practical function as a powerful fortress. Its ingenious architecture, combining strength with beauty, has attracted visitors continually. Horyu-ji Temple, located on Buddhist temple grounds is made up of a group of many irreplaceable buildings, such as the Kondo (Main Hall) and a five-storied pagoda that were all built starting from the last half of the 7th century through the 8th century, and are known as the oldest wooden structures in the world. It is said that temple was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku, who prayed for the recovery of his father, the Emperor Yomei, from illness. It has been verified that the original temple had been
situated at what is called the site of Wakakusa Garan that was once located to the east of the present Nandai-Mon (Great South Gate).