Chuta Ito

Architect and architectural historian. Born in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. After graduating from the Department of Architecture at the College of Engineering of the Imperial University in 1892 (Meiji 25), he went on to graduate school and began researching the history of Japanese architecture, publishing "Horyu-ji Architecture Theory" the following year in 1893. He also became a lecturer at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in the same year and was influenced by Okakura Tenshin. In 1899, he became an assistant professor at the Imperial University of Tokyo, and in 1905 (Meiji 38), he became a professor. During this time, he traveled to China, India, Turkey, and other countries in search of the origins of Japanese architecture, and discovered the Yungang Grottoes. He was active as Japan's first architectural historian, establishing an academic system for the history of Japanese and Asian architecture. He also worked hard to build shrines and preserve cultural properties as an internal affairs engineer, a member of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Shrines and Temples, and a member of the Society for the Preservation of National Treasures. He is a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, a member of the Academy of Sciences, and a member of the Academy of Arts. In 1943 (Showa 18), he was awarded the Order of Culture. His books include "Documents on the Architecture of Ito Chuta" and "Chinese Architectural Decoration," and his major architectural works include Heian Shrine (1895), Meiji Shrine (1920), Okura Museum of Art (1927), and Tsukiji Honganji Temple (1934).

[Amada Yoshio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

建築家、建築史家。山形県米沢(よねざわ)に生まれる。1892年（明治25）帝国大学工科大学造家学科卒業後、大学院に進み、日本建築史の研究に着手、翌1893年『法隆寺建築論』を発表。また同年から東京美術学校の講師となり岡倉天心の影響を受ける。1899年東京帝国大学助教授、1905年（明治38）教授。この間、日本建築の源流を求めて中国、インド、トルコなどに旅行し、雲崗(うんこう)の石窟(せっくつ)を発見。日本および東洋建築史の学問的体系を樹立するなど、日本最初の建築史家として活躍。また内務技師、古社寺保存会委員、国宝保存会委員として神社の造営、文化財の保存に尽くした。東大名誉教授、学士院会員、芸術院会員。1943年（昭和18）文化勲章受章。著書に『伊東忠太建築文献』『支那(しな)建築装飾』など、おもな建築作品に平安神宮（1895）、明治神宮（1920）、大倉集古館（1927）、築地(つきじ)本願寺（1934）などがある。

［天田起雄］

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