For the translation of a dictionary, I’m trying to come up with some proper terminology for parts of certain Japanese architecture. I’m sure many of you have seen a torii, the “sacred archway” at a Shinto shrine. I’m trying to find the proper term for a couple of the parts. Here’s a couple of illusts:
View Image
View Image
View Image
The two uprights are just that: “upright posts” or “uprights.” The part labeled as “A” in the first drawing is called a kasagi, which I think I’ll call a “cap beam” (unless I get any better suggestions).
It’s part “B” that I’m concerned about. It’s called a nuki and it’s through-mortised beneath the kasagi into the two uprights, often or usually pegged (pegs are visible in a couple of the torii in the second and third illusts). The nuki gives the whole thing lateral stability which the cap beam doesn’t. But what should I call it? Any ideas?Thanks for any suggestions!
Replies
Is nuki untranslatable, or is the translation just not descriptive of the part?
In English framing carpentry around 1900 it would probably have been called a "transom" which is basically an intermediate rail between stiles.
Chris
comes from the verb , which means to "pass through" or "penetrate." It is translated as "brace" in other contexts, such as when you have multiple verticle pieces joined together by a single horizontal piece that is mortised through all of them to hold them together, but here, "brace" alone seems so pedestrian. And while transom may be correct, I can't help associating it with a boat . . . Thanks for the suggestions. More food for thought. ". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."
Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township
Would it be called a stretcher?
I'd call it a trestle beam. It's basically a tusk tenoned beam. Right? It seems very similar to the construction of the long beam on a trestle table that we westerners are familiar with.
Trestle beam . . . stretcher I thought about "stretcher," although I've never thought of stretchers much outside of "furniture." A trestle beam might work, although the consensus over on the "Fine Homebuilding" site (I asked the same question over there) was something more mundane like "bracing beam". Thanks for the words.". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."
Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township
Norm,
Love the pics!. I am a big fan of oriental joinery but in all truth know very little. But you asked for verbal identifier ideas so I'll try. Most american framing carpenters might call this construction at'A'= top plate and 'B'= head jamb. American cabinet makers might describe 'A'=top rail and 'B'= stretcher or bottom rail.
Not much help for you probably yet maybe will stir your creativity vis a vis language adaptation. I wonder what terms architects, structural engineers or bridge builders would use?
sawick
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled