TAJCD: Volume III Now Complete!!

If you've been wondering why the apparent slowdown in the blog posting rate the past week, well, one reason is that I've been putting quite a few hours into completing Volume III of my essay series on Japanese carpentry drawing and techniques. I had released a 'part 1A' of this essay, which delves into splicing joints, in January, promising the rest, a part 1B, in another 'month or so'. Well, I'm afraid it took a lot longer than I thought, and part of the reason for that is that I got a bit more ambitious in what I was trying to achieve. Volume 3 now runs to three parts, A, B, and C, and totals out at 284 pages! I believe it is the most detailed look at Japanese splicing joints you will find anywhere, in any language.

Those that have already paid for this volume will be receiving the new updated volumes in the next day or so, and I will be putting the essay up on Ebay as well, in the hope that more people will see it and possibly, who knows, drop by this blog to take a look-see. The Ebay price will be $5.00 higher, to cover the costs of listing and selling.


Those who are interested in the series but wanting more information can contact me and I'll send you screen shots from the tables of contents and that sort of thing. Hundreds and hundreds of hours work went into it, so the $40 selling price (if you buy direct from me) is quite reasonable I feel. Obviously, if I were selling thousands of copies, the pricing would come down, but that sort of situation remains a,uh, mist-shrouded dream at this point.

It was surprising in my course of research for this volume how much misinformation and confusion I found on this topic, even on Japanese sites and in Japanese books. One of the leading Western websites on the subject of Japanese wooden architecture, JAANUS, has, it seems, numerous mistakes in content and various inaccuracies. I've sent them several emails bringing various points to their attention, however they don't seem to be too responsive. Too bad- I greatly respect the work of Mary Parent, who's dissertation The Roof in Japanese Buddhist Architecture served as a foundation for that site.

I'm going to take a month or two breather from the essay series, but do plan to get the next one going, which will look at sawhorse layout, soon enough. I appreciate all the support and feedback I've received so far in this endeavor, both from readers and family.