Shinto Architecture

Where the spirit, history, and the heart of the miyadaiku exist

© Jeremy Hoare

The old architectural forms of Japan are among the most admired in the world. And in the face of life’s rapidly changing pace, the Japanese traditional space continues to calm the spirit and connect the soul with the natural world through wood, clay, tatami straw mats, and the interplay of shadow and light.

Some people may imagine beautiful gardens and traditional wooden Japanese houses in the countryside, however, among the assortment of old and traditional architecture in Kyoto, the most traditional and also the most spiritual aspects are found in religious architecture, such as that found at Shinto shrines.

Shinto or the “Way of the Gods,” is a name that only came into existence in the 6th century to differentiate it from Buddhism. In its purest and simplest form, Shinto is a blend of animism, fertility cults, shamanism and ancestor worship. There is no founder, no prophets, and no religious texts or laws. It is, like nature, unorganized, largely undefined, and very much a bright and optimistic spiritual orientation, embodied perfectly by Shinto’s highest ruling deity, Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess.

A Shinto shrine is a collection of several buildings that together provide both religious and aesthetic value. Shrine buildings are built in different architectural styles which can often be distinguished by the form of the roof. The architecture of shrines went through various changes with the passing of Japan’s long history.

Reviving the True Master of Miyadaiku — A conversation with Shokodo

Carpenters who are specialized in Shinto and Buddhist architecture are called Miyadaiku. Miya means a shrine hall or space where the sacred spirits or their presence preside. Daiku is a carpenter. A Miyadaiku is not only skillful in Japanese architectural construction but also has a deep knowledge and sensitivity that enables them to touch the base of the religious spirit rooted in this country.

Shokodo, based in the northeastern area of Kyoto City, is a group of miyadaiku specialists. Soichiro Yokokawa is the managing director who followed a slightly different path than is usual to become the head of Shokodo.

Born in Kyoto, Yokokawa studied machine engineering at university and got a job in a large electrical appliance manufacturing company. His career started successfully as he was working as a

designer of friedges for households. However, just after he turned 26, he realized that he actually wanted to be an architect and this realization led him to change his career. However, an

even larger change would later come to his career, and also to his life. One day, he met a master of miyadaiku while involved in

one of his architectural projects. This was

Master Okamoto and it didn’t take long for

Yokokawa to realize that he wished to study

and work under such a miyadaiku master.

Yokokawa himself is not a carpenter but his goal is to establish a company of true miyadaiku. In his words: “Daiku is a word for a carpenter in Japanese. Dai means ‘big’or ‘something respected’ and Ku is to make or produce. Literally, Daiku means the big respected maser of producing. For example, when we build a house, a number of people from different fields are involved. In the olden times, most of them were craftspeople who all worked with their own hands. The Daiku was the chief of the project who could oversee both the whole picture and the precise points. It must have been like being a conductor of a big orchestra, and a daiku must have been an all-rounder.

“However, sadly, since after the Meiji restoration (1868), the presence of daiku has diminished dramatically. Today, some people might think a daiku is a person who is good at dealing with wood. My goal is to return daiku back to its original meaning and nurture such daiku so that people refer to daiku with the same respect and honor that they were regarded with in the olden times,” Yokokawa says firmly.

Today, some members of the young generation who wish to become miyadaiku are working hard in their studio every day. One of them is Kosuke Inaba, who was also studying architecuture at university but had his heart grasped by the cool miyadaiku working at Shokodo when he had a chance to visit their studio during a DESIGN WEEK KYOTO event. At that time, he was not sure which way he should take: going on to graduate school or getting a job. But watching how the miyadaiku were working at Shokodo and talking to them made him determine his path right away.

“To be honest, I had a wrong impression about carpenters. I thought carpenters were all elderly workers who don’t accept young people. However, visiting Shokodo blew away such an idea. I started my career as a miyadaiku only a few years ago and I can’t imagine how long the path will be to become a real miyadaiku, but I hope to become a true master in the future just like Yokokawa-san wishes for his carpenters to be.” As he speaks, the eyes of this future miyadaiku master are filled with hopes and passion.