Comparison Study on Japanese and Chinese Carpentry Tools Aimed to Construct the Foundation of the History of Wooden Buildings' Technology in East Asia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K04831
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 23040:Architectural history and design-related
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University (2022-2023); Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: LI Hui 奈良女子大学, 大和・紀伊半島学研究所, 協力研究員 (30772751)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 木造建築造営技術 / 大工道具 / 製材技術 / 加工技術 / 比較研究

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study seeks to understand the connection between historic wooden architecture construction methods in China and Japan. It is intended to be accomplished by conducting surveys of traditional carpenters and their carpentry tools. Much research has been dedicated to architectural design using existing remains and literature. However, this study aims to develop a more on-site architectural theory by incorporating an analysis of carpentry tools.
As for research results, I reported the field survey in the southern region of China at the academic conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, field research in China and Japan had to be postponed. As a result, the research policy has been adjusted to focus on studying the information from excavation reports on carpentry tools, and some of the findings have already been reported.

Free Research Field

建築造営技術史、中国建築史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

古建築を造り上げた道具の変遷は、施工技術の発展を示している。ただし、現状では大工道具の機械化・電動化とともに伝統的な技術とその伝承が深刻な状態にあり、大工道具に関する記録と研究は、極めて急務である。
本研究は、大工道具に注目する視点に立ち、建築の意匠面にとどまらず、建築造営の技術についても、日本と中国両国の古建築の相違と関連性がより一層明らかにすることを期待できる。