John Paul M.

Jacosalem
2013 - 14795
East Asian Architecture
China and Japan: Influence through History
Geography undoubtedly plays a role in the interaction between cultures. Our country became
one of the trading hubs in Southeast Asia in the past because of its archipelagic nature and its strategic
location in between trade routes. This opened up the Philippines to other nations, allowing the influx of
various wares, technologies, and ultimately, different cultures. Philippines became a melting pot of
different individuals and nations, our culture becoming infused with the beliefs and traditions of those
we interact with. The influence of China and Japan, two countries that are part of Philippines history,
on our architecture will be analyzed.
China was one of the countries that engaged in trade with us, bringing in silk, porcelain and
ironware to the Philippines. They would become one of the dominant traders in our waters come 12 th
century, with interactions between the nations at its peak. It is therefore not surprising to see Chinese
influences in our culture today. In fact, the large Chinese-Filipino community now is proof of how China
has become part of Philippines history.
Given the mingling of these two cultures, it would be foolish to deny that our architecture today
is completely devoid of any Chinese influences. One of the most prevalent considerations in design
today is Feng Shui, a system of harmonizing people and their surroundings that originated from China.
This, along with the use of religious and divine imageries such as door gods, supplemented the already
abundant superstitions and beliefs that we Filipinos hold on to. Even construction details such as
surfaces and finishes mirror the influence China has had in our architecture. The emphasis on family
ties and kinship that China and Philippines shared also contributed to how space is construed,
especially in residential dwellings.
Japan, on the other hand, came to the Philippines around 1600s, much later than the Chinese.
China and Japan werent isolated from each other, with Buddhism entering Japan through China,
among other interactions. As such, some of the influences that Japan have on Philippines largely
originate from China. In fact, the irimoya, the roof system where a hip roof is integrated on two
opposing sides of a gable roof, has its roots in China. Extensive use of paradise-like gardens, a feature
becoming more and more widespread today in our country, is shared by both Japan and China.

Wood construction, one of Japanese architectures prominent characteristics, also found its
way to our country. In fact, even metal surfaces are painted so as to achieve wooden look. Construction
methods employed by Japan such as joineries are also found in Filipino native houses. The capiz
windows of the Philippines also share a similar look with shoji, panels built with translucent paper
sandwiched in between. Along with shoji is the fusuma, vertical rectangular panels that help demarcate
space, both of which give us a hint that Japanese preferred open, multi-use spaces that can be
temporarily bound or enlarged. Looking back, we see that this kind of open space planning is visible in
our architectural icon, the bahay kubo.
Japanese architecture is also generally simplistic and minimalist, a trend thats only become
famous in the Philippines in the recent years. The Filipinos in the Hispanic period would have had a
hard time accommodating this aesthetic belief because of its conflict with the very ornamental nature of
our architecture.
All in all, we see that historic interactions, mostly through trade, are the reason why our culture
and architecture possess Chinese and Japanese influences. As it turns out, we were also trading
beyond the confines of the silk, porcelain and iron. A characteristic of culture is that it is malleable, and
the trading relations our country have made possible the trading of traditions and beliefs. Mingling with
these countries during the Philippines formative years as a state paved the way for the adoption of
Chinese and Japanese beliefs in our culture. Although its reception has depended on the degree of
similarity and assimilation of said beliefs, it is undeniable that Filipino architecture has been molded by
the architecture of the East.