is a Japanese technique related to

pollarding Pollarding is a pruning system involving the removal of the upper branches of a tree, which promotes the growth of a dense head of foliage and branches. In ancient Rome, Propertius mentioned pollarding during the 1st century BCE. The practice h ...

, used on ''

Cryptomeria ''Cryptomeria'' (literally "hidden parts") is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae. It includes only one species, ''Cryptomeria japonica'' ( syn. ''Cupressus japonica'' L.f.). It is considered to be endemic to Japan, ...

'' () trees. The term roughly translates to "platform cedar". When applied in a

silviculture Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, as well as quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production. The name comes from the Latin ('forest') and ('growing'). The study of forests ...

context, the method requires trunks to be pruned every 2–4 years in order to maintain the straight, clear grain that they are coveted for.

History

In the

Muromachi period The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...

a form of very straight and stylized Sukiya-zukuri architecture was highly fashionable in Japan, resulting in a rise in demand for straight, uniform logs. As a response, the method was developed by foresters in the Kitayama area of

Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...

, though other forms of

vegetative reproduction Vegetative reproduction (also known as vegetative propagation, vegetative multiplication or cloning) is a form of asexual reproduction occurring in plants in which a new plant grows from a fragment or cutting of the parent plant or specializ ...

such as the propagation of cuttings remained the dominant afforestation technique across the country. Kitayama foresters increased the value of their logs by applying a unique sand polishing method that gave the wood a smooth, shiny finish. The development of the sanding method is attributed to a local fable about a traveling monk who was cared for by Kitayama villagers, it is said that he repaid their kindness by sharing his forestry knowledge with them. Due to their strength and aesthetic value, Kitayama’s logs, and similar specialty lumber such as Kitayama Maruta logs became popular in tea room construction, such as the ''

tokonoma A , or simply , is a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed. In English, a could be called an Alcove (architecture), alcove. History There are two theories about the predece ...

'' alcove.

Modern practice

Although originally a forestry management technique, has also found its way into

Japanese garden are traditional gardens whose designs are accompanied by Japanese aesthetics and philosophical ideas, avoid artificial ornamentation, and highlight the natural landscape. Plants and worn, aged materials are generally used by Japanese garden desig ...

s as an aesthetic feature. Examples of forestry can still be found in areas of northern Kyoto where it was developed, though Kitayama sugi plantations do not contribute significantly to the domestic lumber market as they once did. In the Village of Nakagawa in the Kyoto prefecture, efforts are underway to preserve traditional Japanese sugi silviculture practices such as , and the sand polishing technique used to finish logs.

References

External links

* {{commonscat-inline Japanese style of gardening Horticultural techniques Forestry in Japan Forest management