I spent the weekend in the country looking at traditional Japanese pillar-to-stone foundations, the no concrete no metal lowtech (sustainable) method of building earthquake resistant homes. I looked primarily at pre-1923 vernacular home, but also some temples, shrines, gates etc.

Traditionally the building was never anchored to the ground, but rather remained free floating on top of the foundation stones. A fantastic natural seismic insulator: the house can move around a bit but when the shaking stops the house will settle on its feet with no damage.

These days this construction method is rare, there is no money in construction in this simple way so little effort has been made to make it viable to modern building codes. Some new constructions are made though, often with perfectly flat, polished stones.

You get even more strength when using natural uneven stones and pillars cut (with scribes) to match the stones perfectly, as they will slide back into place after each shock but this method of construction is far more difficult and requires tons of experience, very rare today.

Beautiful example of natural stone foundation stones with pillars scribed to match, in Nara (I think). This is a free floating structure that will stand for millennia is properly maintained.

Here some beautiful floating foundation stones at Tokeiji (東慶寺) in Kamakura. The pillars and the stone itself carefully shaped. Very attractive.