Architecture and authority in Japan

the long version

Japanese architecture is one of the most inspired manifestations of Japanese civilization. This study argues that architectural forms are more than just symbols of the institutions that created them. William H. Coaldrake explores the symbiotic relationship between architecture and authority throughout Japanese history, exploring key structures and how they have been used as active conveyors of power, relating buildings to the political ambitions and religious beliefs of the major historical eras in Japan.