Abstract
Reinterpreting initial works (8 out of 22 buildings in total) of the Horyuji Restoration Activities (1934-66) executed under Goichi Takeda's direction, this paper points out the following 3 items: 1) Takeda played an important role for drawing up the restoration guideline with field working experts and applying his (their) idea to each reconstruction. 2) In Takeda's restorations, original designs of architecture - forms and colours - were recreated by adopting revived techniques of ancient carpenters whereas posterior alterations were eliminated. 3) This restoration was criticized by various scholars of national or architectural history for not maintaining historical value or patina, which consequently modified the restoration guideline after Takeda's death.
