The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an Ancient Woodworking Craft

Very interesting book. Tells the history of both the famous temple in Nara prefecture and of the carpenters and carpentry techniques that the Japanese used to build these ancient wooden structures. This is a book that you can read cover to cover not just a book that you dip into.My sister who is training to become a carpenter and also has a great interest in history and restoration carpentry was very pleased with it. She says that it is a real eye opener for someone trained in traditional European carpentry techniques.

bought this as a keepsake as I had already ready this on kindle, while in Japan at some of the sites mentioned, an excellent book for Woodworking Japanophiles

Would of liked more of the technical side of the joints used in general carpentry

great book!More of a cultural history than a how to book

Exhalant book for the discovery of Japanese temple joinery and its history

Very interesting book for the specialist reader

Excellent lots of info.

No, just pretty photos

Must have

El libro es lo que esperaba. Es un regalo así que no lo he leído, pero tiene muy buena pinta para los amantes de la arquitectura tradicional y la carpintería. Lo que no es de recibo es que Amazon, para un producto que tienen en stock, vendido por ellos mismos, tarden 6 meses en entregarlo. Muy mal servicio (pedido realizado el 9 de febrero y entregado el 22 de agosto) para un producto que siempre aparecía en stock

Great book on the building philosophy, selection of materials and historical notes of building a traditional shinto temple. Not really an instruction manual on how carpentry. I was looking for a book to show me the in's and out's of wood working, but this is not really that book. It does go into detail on how to select the wood and why. It also has super great pictures on the actual temple itself.

Having lived in japan for many years and visited many temples, I have a newfound respect for Japanese carpentry and design thanks to Azby's wonderful book. The beams fitted together without nails like insane jigsaw puzzles and the planning of temples and trees down to the promises made to the trees to honoring them by positioning them as they were on the mountain directionally in the temple. Unbelievable and artisanship we need to know more about to respect the artisans and support their work.

very interesting book