sasugumi 扠首組
KEY WORD : architecture / general terms
 

1 Diagonal braces *sasuzao 扠首竿, set on transverse beams *hari 梁; *kouryou 虹梁. Some are strengthened by a central strut *sasuzuka 扠首束, and also added to support the ridge *mune 棟. Diagonal braces form attractive patterns in the gable *tsuma 妻, ends of temple and shrine buildings. They appeared in Buddhist temple buildings in the late 7c, and continued in *wayou 和様 style buildings until after the 13c even though new styles of bracket systems and roof framing were introduced to take the form of the daibutsu style *daibutsuyou 大仏様, and Zen style *zenshuuyou 禅宗様, at that time. Examples: Shin'yakushiji Hondou 新薬師寺本堂 (8c) Nara. Open to the roof *keshou yaneura 化粧屋根裏, these interior sasugumi have no center strut except in the gable ends. Sumiyoshi Taisha Honden 住吉大社本殿 (1812) Osaka.

2 Also referred to as sasu kouzou 扠首構造. An important form of thatched roof assembly in vernacular houses of the Edo period. The other is *taruki kouzou 垂木構造. The system employs upper crutch-like members called *sasu 扠首, from which it derives its name. The feet of the sasu rest upon the principal transverse beam *jouyabari 上屋梁 or *koyabari 小屋梁, and the ridge purlin *munagi 棟木, is cradled at the point where they intersect at the top. Further support may be provided by a central row of struts sasuzuka, underpinning the sasu and ties *nuki 貫, may be inserted as bracing members, both along and across the roof. A Sasugumi is a double rafter roof construction system. Horizontal members yanaka 屋中, often made of bamboo take 竹, are bound to the sasu at regular intervals and the rafters *taruki 垂木, also often made of bamboo, are tied to these. The rafters support the roof membrane of thatch. The *kyourogumi 京呂組 assembly system with the beam uppermost and plate beneath, is particularly suitable for sasugumi. The sasu are usually spaced regularly at about 1 bay *ken 間, intervals, though closer spacing is not uncommon in areas where there is heavy snow in winter. Sasugumi was employed for all the major roof forms and was the most common form of roof structure for thatched Edo period vernacular dwellings *minka 民家. The taruki kouzou rafter system, chiefly found in Kansai 関西 region, employed a ridge strut *udatsu 卯立 to support the ridge purlin directly. In many regions, the professional carpenter's work finished at the level of the beams, and the erection and thatching of the roof was the responsibility of the householder. The simplicity of the sasugumi system made it ideally suited to erection by non-professionals.
 
 

 
REFERENCES:
*gasshou 合掌, *gasshou-zukuri 合掌造, *inokosasu 豕扠首, *kouryou sasugumi 虹梁扠首組
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