Traditional Japanese Architecture (Video Tape: 30 Minutes) (FFH 2090)

The subject of this exquisite documentary is Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto, said to be one of the three finest buildings in the world (the other two are the Parthenon and the Taj Mahal). Built in the early 17th century, the compound contains gardens and a tea house in addition to the main building. The processes and techniques of restoration shown in the program provide a further dimension to understanding the materials and the esthetics of traditional Japanese architecture (30 minutes).