Climate and culture as architects of the Japanese home

The Japanese home is the ultimate expression of the physical and social environment of Japan. This thesis attempts to examine the various forces, whether geographical, social, or religious, that have shaped the development of domestic architecture in Japan since prehistoric times, and to reflect upon the ways in which this architecture has helped to sustain the traditional Japanese value system. Attention is focused entirely on homes of commoners, in an attempt to gain an appreciation of the ways in which the home has shaped the lives of the Japanese people as a whole. Special attention is paid to rituals surrounding the home, as they provide a clearer understanding of the role of spirituality in everyday Japanese life, and the persuasiveness of traditions despite modernization. Central to this discussion is the dual influence of climate and culture on the physical structure and social implications of the Japanese home.