Looking Back: What Ancient Structures Tell Us About Earthquake-Safe Construction

Built in 607 A.D., Japan’s 122-ft.-tall Horyu-ji temple is one of the oldest wooden structures in the world, and has survived almost 50 earthquakes at magnitudes of 7.0 and greater.

Thu November 09, 2017 - National Edition
Emily Buenzle

A 1,410-year-old building is a key resource for modern-day earthquake-safe building methods.

Built in 607 A.D., Japan's 122-ft.-tall Horyu-ji temple is one of the oldest wooden structures in the world, and has survived almost 50 earthquakes at magnitudes of 7.0 and greater, the New York Daily News reported.

How They Did It

The temple was built using a shinbashira, a big column encased in a shaft that sits in the center of the structure. The shinbashira serves as a shock absorber, as well as a buffer between the structure's floors, the New York Daily News reported.

Builders use the same type of method in today's buildings with mass dampers, or harmonic absorbers, which lessen the tremors when an earthquake hits. Although today's dampers are typically made from steel, liquid or concrete, the concept is still the same.

More Techniques

The Horyu-ji temple isn't the only ancient structure that was built to withstand earthquakes. In China's Forbidden City, a 2,000-year-old support method called dougong uses interlocking wooden brackets to evenly distribute the weight of overhanding roofs, the New York Daily News reported. China's 1056 A.D. Wooden Pagoda, built on a seismic belt, also utilized dougong, and has survived countless earthquakes. The technique works so well that architects of today have begun to use it once more.

Atop earthquake-laden Machu Piccu in Peru, Incans created a Lego-like technique to fit stones without the use of mortar, the New York Daily News reported. Now, architects are looking at ways to adapt the method for modern-day use.

Today's top stories

Des Moines Airport Works With Weitz/Turner On Expansion

ROMCO Equipment Co., SMT Acquire Bee Equipment Sales

San Francisco County Transportation Authority Bridges Retrofit Addresses Seismic Safety

Year in Review: Bobcat's Major Moments of 2024

MassDOT to Use Drones for Infrastructure Projects; Amherst Exploring New Downtown Designs

Iowa DOT's I-35 Project Includes New Bridges

JM Wood Holds December Auction in Montgomery, Alabama

DEVELON Set to Exhibit at ARA Show 2025

Read more about...

China earthquake Historical Japan

Our Main Office

Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200

About Us

Construction Equipment Guide covers the nation with its four regional newspapers, offering construction and industry news and information along with new and used construction equipment for sale from dealers in your area. Now we extend those services and information to the internet. Making it as easy as possible to find the news and equipment that you need and want.

Contents Copyrighted 2024, by Construction Equipment Guide, which is a Registered Trademark, registered in the U.S. Patent Office. Registration number 0957323. All rights reserved, nothing may be reprinted or reproduced (including framing) in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. All editorial material, photographs, drawings, letters, and other material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to Construction Equipment Guide’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Contributor articles do not necessarily reflect the policy or opinions of this publication.

Read our privacy policy here.
Mastodon