Kyushu Castles

This is the issue of whether rebuilding cheapens or nullifies the historical significance of a given site. I would argue that such rebuilding, of a temple or anything, is fine so long as the new building is used for its original purpose. Hence the Ise Shrine really is very very old, even though it was built only a few years ago. But post-war concrete castles are just Disneyland fakes.

The classic example in Japan is the Kinkakuji. Many people are very disappointed to learn that the current building dates from the 1950s. However, it is still a holy site, as it was since shortly after it was built, so in that sense, it’s just as historic as if it was rebuilt in the 1850s or 1750s. But conversely, for example, the massive Great Hall of the Higashi Honganji in Kyoto is not a National Treasure, and one important reason for that is its relatively young age (early Meiji reconstruction).

It’s a difficult issue, but if it’s used for its original purpose then I don’t have a lot of problems with reconstruction.