Until World War II, studies focused on ancient and medieval shrine and temple architecture, but since the War, the scope of research widened to include shrines and temples of the Edo period and modern structures from and since the Meiji period (studies during and after the Meiji period included the study of structures left behind by ex-colonies that were constructed by Japanese architects).
第2次世界大戦前までは古代・中世の社寺建築が研究の中心であったが、第二次世界大戦後は民家、江戸時代の社寺、明治以降の近代建築と次第に対象が広がっている（明治以降、旧植民地に日本人建築家の残した作品も対象になっている）。