报告摘要：The abundance of wood species in Japan is reflected in its culture. The Japanese themselves define it specifically as a “culture of wood”. The traditional woodcrafts play an important role in this qualification, as a great number of artisans in Japan are still practising the traditions, built up by many generations. In order to understand the relation between the traditional Japanese woodworkers and their wood material used for everyday artefacts as well as objects of artistic value, it was decided to study the artisans’ empirical knowledge of wood, their specific way of looking at it, fashioning it and expressing its intrinsic beauty. Therefore we undertook in-depth interviews with craftsmen so as to trigger off professional conversations on tradition and techniques, as well as on aesthetics and cultural aspects. From the data thus obtained it was possible to study the materials used, the techniques, the nomenclature, the aesthetics and the culture prevailing in the various fields of woodcraft.

As a result the technical and the symbolic and aesthetic properties of wood and woodworking become apparent, as seen from the point of view of Japanese craftsmen. As such, this study contributes towards opening a new field of research for wood scientists as well as art historians, ethnobotanists, archaeologists and historians by supplying them with new means and tools to supplement their own. Apart from that, our study, focusing on wood in all its aspects as it does, ties in with an academic trend that has been developing in Japan over the past few decades.

责任编辑：iwcs24L