薬師寺再建に密着したドキュメンタリー写真集
薬師寺修復の長期密着取材を通じ、「最後の宮大工」と呼ばれた西岡常一の仕事と彼の残した寺院建築技術を紹介する。1000年以上前の伝統的な工法や木材の選定方法、建材の組み方、特殊工具の詳細を解説します。また、再建に携わった職人達、宮大工の哲学も紹介します。

The Genius of Japanese Carpentry tells the story of the 1200-year-old Yakushiji monastery in Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the dedicated modern-day craftsmen who are working to restore what has been lost to the depredations of time, fire and warfare.

First published more than thirty years ago, this book has become a classic. Author Azby Brown, one of the world's leading experts on Japanese architecture, chronicles the painstaking restoration of the Yakushiji monastery through:

・Extensive interviews with carpenters and woodworkers
・Original drawings based on the plans of master carpenter Tsunekazu Nishioka
・Detailed photographs and diagrams showing the woodworking techniques, tools and materials used

This revised edition of the book contains a new foreword by Mira Locher, one of the world's leading experts on vernacular and modern Japanese architecture.