Traditional Japanese architecture-whether Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, residences, castles, or teahouses-has become increasingly familiar around the world. Through the media of motion pictures, art books, T.V. documentaries and dramas such as Shogun, as well as through personal experience, more and more people have gained an acquaintance and appreciation of the architecture of premodern Japan. Some may even be able to name or recognize the oldest and the largest wooden structures in existence, which are to be found in Japan at Horyuji and Todaiji respectively. Yet often this knowledge is still rudimentary. Confusion abounds as to what distinguishes Japanese architecture from Chinese or Korean, or even Southeast Asian, not to mention what sets off a Buddhist temple from a Shinto shrine or, say, a residence of the tenth century from one of the eighteenth. Until now, there has been no recourse for those seeking, through a single book, to increase their appreciation of the whole range of traditional Japanese architecture. With the publication of What Is Japanese Architecture?, however, this situation has finally been rectified. Construction, design, carpentry, and the background of Japanese architecture, from prehistory to mid-nineteenth century, are here made available within the covers of a single, compact book. With over 300 drawings that illuminate the essentials of discussion more concretely than words could ever do, and a text that is succinct and always to the point, the book is divided into four parts-one each dealing chronologically with religious structures, residences, castles, and places of entertainment. The reader learns not only how each of these fields of architecture has evolved over the centuries and what distinguishes the buildings of one age from those of another, but something of the historical conditions and the people responsible for these changes as well as the role played by carpentry and methods of construction. The establishment and growth of the historic Japanese capitals-Nara, Kyoto, Edo-is brought sharply into focus, along with the rise and spread of other urban centers. Also highlighted are the mansions of the court nobility; the castles and residences of the samurai aristocracy; the homes of village elders; dwellings of the common people; educational institutions, and places of entertainment such as theaters, red-light districts, teahouses, and country villas. Any book that is as full of information as this, and readily accessible and clearly illustrated at the same time, will be of great interest and use to a wide range of people-architects, designers, historians, carpenters, movie buffs, tourists, garden designers, and others, whether amateur or professional. Whatever the readers' background, there is little doubt about one thing: they will emerge with an acuter eye and a greater sensitivity to the delights of traditional Japanese architecture.

日本的传统建筑--无论是佛教寺庙还是神道教神社、住宅、城堡或茶馆--已经在世界各地变得越来越熟悉。通过电影、艺术书籍、电视纪录片和电视剧（如《幕府将军》）等媒体，以及通过个人经验，越来越多的人对日本前现代的建筑有了认识和欣赏。有些人甚至能够说出或认出现存最古老和最大的木制建筑，它们分别位于日本的法隆寺和东大寺。然而，这种知识往往仍然是初级的。对于日本建筑与中国或韩国，甚至东南亚建筑的区别，更不用说是佛教寺庙与神道院，或者说是十世纪的住宅与十八世纪的住宅的区别了，这种困惑比比皆是。到目前为止，对于那些想通过一本书来提高他们对整个日本传统建筑的鉴赏力的人来说，还没有任何办法。然而，随着《什么是日本建筑》的出版，这种情况终于得到了纠正。从史前到十九世纪中叶，日本建筑的结构、设计、木工和背景都在这本紧凑的书中得到了体现。本书分为四个部分，每个部分按时间顺序介绍了宗教建筑、住宅、城堡和娱乐场所。读者不仅可以了解到这些领域的建筑在几个世纪以来是如何演变的，以及一个时代的建筑与另一个时代的建筑有何不同，还可以了解到一些历史条件和负责这些变化的人，以及木工和建筑方法所发挥的作用。日本历史上的首都--奈良、京都、江户的建立和发展，以及其他城市中心的兴起和蔓延，都被鲜明地提了出来。此外，还重点介绍了宫廷贵族的宅邸；武士贵族的城堡和住宅；乡村长者的住宅；普通人的住宅；教育机构，以及剧院、红灯区、茶馆和乡村别墅等娱乐场所。任何像这样信息量大，同时又便于查阅和清晰图解的书，都会引起广泛的人的兴趣和使用，包括建筑师、设计师、历史学家、木匠、电影迷、游客、花园设计师以及其他业余或专业人员。无论读者的背景如何，有一点是毋庸置疑的：他们将以更敏锐的眼光，对传统日本建筑的乐趣更加敏感。