Building Decoration Taiwan Style

I thought it time I should keep up with our travel pics, after all it has been a while, and the next trip is well into the planning stages.

This photo is of one of the buildings in the grounds of Marty's Shrine in Taipai, Taiwan. It shows beautiful building and roof decoration. On the ridges of the roof line we can see little creatures guarding the roof, and on the points are other decorations different to those that we saw in Japan. The roof lines may be similar, but the decorations are very different.

On the building itself, there ore other decorations. They are a little fuzzy, but they look like dragons.

Overall, the effect Looks like a mix of Japanese and Chinese architecture.

Roof Decoration

This was a roof of one of the buildings we passed on our way to the next part of our tour. We have to remember that we are now in Taiwan, and the roof decorations are so similar, if not the same, as those that we saw in Japan. I have found it interesting how details can carry from one country to another, and have been doing so for thousands of years.

On the Road to Taipei Pt 2

Another of the buildings that we saw out the bus window on our way into Taipei. This one had roof decoration to the max, and there was an elaborate gate down in the grounds. Possibly a school or a hospital perhaps? I am not sure, but it is different than the last one I showed you and more Asian to look at.

Another Roof Line

This was one of the roof lines that we found in the main street of Okinawa. It was certainly interesting, with a Chinese influence. It certainly made for interesting viewing up against the modern buildings in the same street. Lots of patterns once again to use as inspiration for my stitching.

A Roof Line

The one thing that I loved about our trip to Japan was the buildings, and the decorations on them. This is just another example, of one we found in Okinawa. I just love the mix of flowers and leaves with fish. It would all be symbolic in some way.

This one is just a close up of the fish.

Roof Patterns

Some more roof patterns now. If we look closely we will see that these roof patterns are different to those that we saw on the main islands of Japan. The roof style is still the same, but the patterns used for decoration are very different. I could definitely play with these & use them in my lace making and stitching

Kyoto Station Pt 3

Another view from the top of Kyoto Station down into it's depths. I love the roof line of this section, it could lead to a piece of creative stitching sometime in the future.

Another Shrine Building

Yes, still another shrine building in the grounds of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Showing off again those beautiful decorations on the line of the roof. If we look closely we can just see the art work on the doors.

Scallops, Symbols, Flowers and Leaves

Ah........ here it is again. The beautiful roof decorations of the traditional Japanese buildings. This building would have been somewhere within the grounds of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, but which one I am not sure. The pattern created by simply mirroring the scallop, the dropping it down half a pattern, then again mirroring the result. Simply stunning! I am sure I can use that somewhere in my stitching. Then there is the Japanese symbol of family at the end of each ridge in the roof. Not to mention the laves and the flowers. All so beautiful!

Gold Roof Decoration

This is the roof line of one of the buildings at the Fushimi Inari Shrine. I am not sure if it is real gold, but there was a large amount of it. There were embossed overlays, embossed with flowers and vines, decorating the gable. The scroll decoration at the top was edged with it, and the ends of each of those roof beams were also decorated with it. Whatever it was, it certainly added to the building.

More Roof Decorations

Just one of the many decorations on the buildings in the Fushimi Inari Shrine complex. This was on one of the smaller buildings.  I am sure I can use this as inspiration in my design work somewhere. Scallops in a row for a border, flowers in each of the scallops............mmmmmm, I could go on.......

A Roof Line

The one thing that I really enjoyed looking at is the roof lines on the Japanese buildings, especially the traditional ones. They are so different to anything that we have here at home. This it the roof of one of the buildings in the grounds of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. If you look closely, scrolls can bee seen decorating the roof.

Also, in the lower left corner of the pic you will see the prayer cards that  spoke of yesterday displayed on the wall.

A Hallway

Postcard 8. The Entrance hall of the Daisen-In Temple. Very simple, but still with roof decortations.

A Dragon's Head

A closer look at the Dragon's Head that decorates the covering on the walkway. I am assuming he is a water dragon that is there to help protect the walkway from fire. It is, after all, built entirely from timber.

A Covered Walkway

Walking through the grounds of the Daisen-in Temple is done in style. There are covered walkways to protect you from the weather. Even these walkways were decorated with scrolls, dragon heads and lace carvings.

Roof Decoration

I have mentioned before in previous posts about the roof decoration of the old buildings in Japan. This is just one of the many patterns that adorn the circular end tiles of a roof. If you look closely, the same pattern can be seen on the end of every ridge in the roof, but note that they differ from roof to roof.  At the edges of the scalloped tiles between them, there are also patterns, different to what are on the circular ends. Then of couse there is the dragon/lion head at the ends.