takekugi　竹釘

KEY WORD :　architecture / tea houses

A bamboo nail. Usually the nail is 7.5mm square and made from giant bamboo madake 真竹 (also nigatake 苦竹). They have a hook on which to hang scrolls and are used in a small room or alcove *tokonoma 床の間. When pounded into a wall, the nail project 27mm with the exterior skin on the upper side. Kobori Enshuu 小堀遠州 (1579-1647) and Kanamori Souwa 金森宗和 (1584-1656) preferred nailing takekugi into a wall with the exterior skin on the under side. Hooked bamboo nails were used in a tea ceremony houses *chashitsu 茶室, kitchen *mizuya 水屋, for hanging up towels used to wipe tea implements. Bamboo nails made from a smaller variety of bamboo that has a smooth surface with non-protruding joints are used by cabinet makers. Once shaped as nails, they are roasted in an iron pot and therefore have a brownish color.

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