Life Through A Lens
Hokanji - 法観時
Posted by Stu (Scotland | Residing in Kyoto, Japan) on 16 June 2009 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.
Located on the East side of Kyoto stands the 46 meter high Yasaka Pagoda. The pagoda’s official name is Hokanji (法観寺). The design, which consists of a long central wooden beam, is earthquake safe and remains a model for experts today who construct buildings in earthquake prone regions. The pagoda has 5 levels and each can oscillate freely around the central beam. In this manner, the pagoda absorbs each shock and directs the movement to the ground. The sophistication of this design probably dates back to the reconstruction of 948, when a dangerous tilt of the padgoda was repaired.
In stark contrast, Kyoto tower stands subtly in the background.
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Mum from United Kingdom
Nice one Stu. Like the contrast of old and new, with the tower in the background.
16 Jun 2009 7:12am
@Mum: Thanks Mum. It's not like you to leave a comment?
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
What beautiful light and exquisite details you've captured here!!! Wonderful work Stu!
16 Jun 2009 4:32pm
timothy sullivan from Tokyo, Japan
really nice shot!
yeah--it's funny; the first time i ended up at this area, i ended up passing through some pretty weird and dirty areas and thought, wow, this is supposed to be one of the best places in Japan; why does it suck? and then i saw this pagoda in the slight distance, walked toward it, and my perspective on Kyoto changed. bizarre.
17 Jun 2009 1:41am
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
Kyoto Tower is ugly especially when seen in the same photo as this beauty. Some students described this free floating pagoda concept when I was in Japan. I still marvel at the brilliance of those builders so long ago. I love this image by the way.
17 Jun 2009 2:22am
EstherK from Kota Kinabalu, SABAH, Malaysian Borneo, Malaysia
I absolutely love this one, Stu. Elegance captured perfectly!
17 Jun 2009 3:34am
Canon EOS 50D
15 second
F/8.0
ISO 100
85 mm