FURTHER READING

Coaldrake, William H. The Way of the Carpenter: Tools and Japanese Architecture. Tokyo and New York: Weatherhill, 1991. An extremely well-researched and informative discussion of the development and use of carpentry tools and techniques in Japan from prehistory to the start of the modern era. The author makes excellent use of historical Japanese writings on building and related crafts.

Engel, Heinrich. Measure and Construction of the Japanese House. Tokyo and Rutland, Vermont: C. E. Tuttle, 1985. Extracted from the author’s larger work, The Japanese House: A Tradition for Contemporary Architecture, this book has copious illustrations dealing with house planning and construction.

Nakahara, Yasuo. Japanese Joinery: A Handbook for Joiners and Carpenters. Translated by Koichi Paul Nii. Point Roberts, Washington: Cloudburst Press/Hartley and Marks, 1983. A fairly detailed discussion of Japanese carpentry, including joinery, but dealing exclusively with house construction. Still, a valuable book, and the best of its kind in English. Much of the content was later integrated into The Complete Japanese Joinery.

Nakashima, George. The Soul of a Tree: A Woodworker’s Reflections. Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International, 1981. A poetic and evocative essay on trees and the woodworker’s ethic by the renowned Japanese-American cabinetmaker.

Nishi, Kazuo, and Kazuo Hozumi. What Is Japanese Architecture? Translated by H. Mack Horton. Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International, 1985. A good overall introduction to Japanese architecture, including temples, the history of Nara, and other background pertinent to temple architecture. Contains a good bibliography.

Odate, Toshio. Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use. Newtown, Conn.: Taunton Press, 1984. One of the few books in English dealing with Japanese tools, a “how-to” book. Good descriptions of the various saws, planes, chisels, etc.

Ooka, Minoru. Temples of Nara and Their Art. Translated by Dennis Lishka. (Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art, Vol. 7). Tokyo and New York: Weatherhill/Heibonsha, 1973. A detailed study of Nara Buddhist architecture, with special attention paid to the evolution of layouts and some information about proportions.

Ōta Hirotaro, ed. Japanese Architecture and Gardens. Tokyo: Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai, 1966. A fine, detailed introduction to Japanese architecture, with particular attention paid to temple construction.

Parent, Mary Neighbour. The Roof in Japanese Buddhist Architecture. Tokyo and New York: Weatherhill/Kajima Shuppankai, 1983. The best and most thorough analysis of Japanese temple roof structures, from the Asuka through the Muromachi periods. Extensive supplementary information.

Suzuki, Kakichi. Early Buddhist Architecture in Japan. Translated by Mary N. Parent and Nancy S. Steinhardt. (Japan Arts Library, Vol. 9). Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International and Shibundo, 1980. A detailed and thorough introduction to Buddhist architecture from the Asuka to the Heian periods. Much technical information and a bibliography.

Wong, Dorothy C., and Field, Eric M. Horyuji Reconsidered. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008. This is a collection of recent scholarly essays about Hōryūji temple which help flesh out the context in which it was built and shed light on many puzzling aspects. Of particular interest are Field’s detailed computer-generated 3D images of Hōryūji’s five-story pagoda, which reveal its internal structure beautifully and clearly.