Seismic Performance of Japanese Traditional Timber Temple Kencho-ji

This paper introduces the recent attempts to clarify the seismic behaviour of traditional timber architecture. The subject of the research is a timber temple, Kencho-ji, in Japan, designated as important cultural property. There are two main halls in the Kencho-ji temple, and one of them collapsed while the other slightly inclined by the 1923 Kanto Earthquake. The two main halls have similar structures, and stand next to each other. The reason for the difference in the damage is investigated through on-sight measurement, micro tremor test, earthquake monitoring, and structural analysis. As there is very few information concerning the hidden detail of the joints, the paper introduces the result of the X-ray test on the joints and structural analysis based on the result.