Bridges,+presentation

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__** Kintai Bridge, symbol of beauty and culture **__

The Wonderful Kintai Bridge is located in the old city of Iwakuni, in Japan. The name “Kintai” means gold brocade sash, because of a similarity to the traditional Nishiki obi for kimono.

Iwakuni was formerly the castle town of the Iwakuni domains, which was formed by Lord Hiroie Kikkawa after he was banished there for supporting the defeated shogun.

The Kikkawaclan ruled the domains during the Edo period. His domains prospered for 300 years, until the Meiji Restoration.

On March 20, 2006, the old city of Iwakuni absorbed the towns of Kuga, Mikawa, Miwa, Nishiki, Shūtō and Yū, and the village of Hongō, all from Kuga District, to form the new, expanded city of Iwaku.

In the year 1600, the Japaneses studied how to build an arching bridge with no piers. Product of these studies is the final structure of the Kintai Bridge: Five sequential wooden arches bridges on four stone. The middle spans are 35.1 meters long each, and the two end spans are 34.8 meters each, for a total length of about 175 meters and a width of 5 meters.

The final bridge was built in 1673, spanning the beautiful Nishiki River and located on the foot of Mt.Yokoyama, at the top of which lies Iwakuni Castle. Both, are part of Kikkou Park. By the standards of modern bridge building, Kintai Bridge is an example of brilliant engineering. Nowadays, Japanese engineers have achieved the use of metal nails by carefully fitting it into the wooden parts. This gives to the bridge more durability.

The result is a high level of elegance and Japanese cultural inspired bridge. media type="custom" key="8757180"