See the hidden marvels inside Japan’s ancient wooden shrines
1 min readPhoto: Naho Kubota / courtesy of Japan Society. Article by Nate Berg. Fast Company – March 12, 2021.
Japanese carpenters have been building elaborate shrines by hand for more than a millennium. A new exhibit shows the extraordinary tools and joints behind these extraordinary buildings.
Since the 7th century, master carpenters in Japan have maintained one of the world’s most unique forms of building. Through the use of specially designed tools, elaborate full-scale models, and puzzle-like joinery that requires no nails or screws, Japanese carpenters have been building and rebuilding massive wooden shrines by hand for more than a millennium.
A new exhibition at Japan Society in New York reveals the hidden marvels inside these ancient Japanese buildings by exploring the tools and processes of the master carpenters who design, build, and renovate them. […]