TheGeniusofJapaneseCarpentrytellsthestoryofthe1200-year-oldYakushijimonasteryinNara,aUNESCOWorldHeritageSite,andthededicatedmodern-daycraftsmenwhoareworkingtorestorewhathasbeenlosttothedepredationsoftime,fireandwarfare.Althoughthemonastery’sreconstructionwillnotbefullycompleteduntil2030,oneoftheprimarytemples--thePictureHall--hasbeenwhollyrestoredemployingthesamematerials,toolsandtechniquesoriginallyusedinitscreationoveramillenniumago.Featuringintricate,puzzle-likejoineryandtheintegrationoftimberpiecestoorienttheminthesamedirectionaswhenitwasagrowingtree,thisbookskillfullydocumentsthestunningcraftsmanshipoftheancientJapanese,whichisstillalivetoday.Firstpublishedmorethanthirtyyearsago,thisbookhasbecomeaclassic.AuthorAzbyBrown,oneoftheworld’sleadingexpertsonJapanesearchitecture,chroniclesthepainstakingrestorationoftheYakushijimonasterythrough:ExtensiveinterviewswithcarpentersandwoodworkersOriginaldrawingsbasedontheplansofmastercarpenterTsunekazuNishiokaDetailedphotographsanddiagramsshowingthewoodworkingtechniques,toolsandmaterialsusedThisrevisededitionofthebookcontainsanewforewordbyMiraLocher,oneoftheworld’sleadingexpertsonvernacularandmodernJapanesearchitecture.Aninspiringtestamenttothededicationofthesecraftsmenandtheirphilosophyofcarpentryworkasaformofpersonalfulfillment,TheGeniusofJapaneseCarpentryoffersdetaileddocumentationoftherestorationofthishistoricbuildingandamovingreminderoftheuniqueculturalcontinuityfoundinJapan.c
