Building Without Nails: The Genius of Japanese Carpentry | China Uncensored

Building Without Nails: The Genius of Japanese Carpentry | China Uncensored

Would you believe a temple built 400 years ago without any nails could still be standing? That’s the genius behind traditional Japanese carpentry. It uses complex joinery techniques to build anything you can imagine without any nails or screws. Go with nature, or go against nature.That’s the lesson of wabi sabi master craftsman Mr. Hanafusa shares with us on this special episode of China Uncensored. For more on Mr. Hanafusa’s New York store, Miya Shoji, please visit http://www.miyashoji.com/

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50 Comments

  1. menace46 on September 4, 2023 at 6:55 pm

    Awesome! Thank you for posting this.



  2. Mathias Resch on September 4, 2023 at 6:56 pm

    Hey, does anybody know what kind of wood is used for the table at min. 20? Thanks



  3. Alexander Gray on September 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm

    As a novice woodworker, this is just inspiration.



  4. Michael Lenczewski on September 4, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    He was so young!!



  5. Tim Sexton on September 4, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    This is quite fantastic. I had been aware of Japanese joinery, but still learned a lot. Functionality, simplicity, beauty… Thanks for posting.



  6. ソクラテスの弁明 on September 4, 2023 at 7:05 pm

    Japanese architecture is greatly influenced by ancient Chinese architecture such as Tang and Song dynasty. It’s so simple and beautiful style.



  7. David C on September 4, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    Let me tell you something. It’s not just wood working. A lot of craftsmanship comes from Japan. Sadly as we get more modernized, we’re going to lose these old ways.
    Oh, buy a Honda



  8. Maxime Remillard on September 4, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    The guys name is Woodlock… Can’t make this shit up 😂



  9. William Potter on September 4, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    Sashimono #1.
    But, they may have coppied it, like their writing, from the Chinese.
    Japanese woodworking is way more technical, refined, and comparitivly fragile as compared to Chinese woodworking which is big and chonky but, for the novice wood-worker, way more attainable. The Forbidden CIty’s construction is a perfect example; the joinery is chonky, simple, and very durable.
    It’s like comparing Shaker construction against Soviet construction. Both are aimed at efficeincy, they just get to the same destination via different paths; love’em both.
    Just for fun, look up how long it takes to make a troditional Japanese lacqure bowl…



  10. Hondo Trailside on September 4, 2023 at 7:07 pm

    The Japanese methods are really very similar to western methods. We have buildings that don’t use nails. One big difference is we used diagonal braces, which is a significant structural difference or improvement. The Germans seem relatively convinced they were separated at birth from Japanese carpentry. There is at least one book that details similarities in the built forms of both countries. Really interesting.

    I trained in Japanese carpentry, and a lot of things they did that seemed to surprise westerners, like hold work with their bodies, all have parallels in the west. The great thing is that the traditions are still alive so we can actually see things being built with the old techniques. PBS presenter Roy Underhill would marvel that at Williamsberg, they would get stuck over something and go to the blacksmith and say, "we need a thingamajig that does this while doing that" The blacksmith would make it, and on some occasions that tool they invented would later show up in a find. It was kinda cool, but in Japanese carpentry we don’t have to guess how they did things or what they used.



  11. VogtTD on September 4, 2023 at 7:07 pm

    How are nails against nature? LOL And what does nailless furniture have to do with simplifying ones life? Sounds like some pseudo philosophical nonsense. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool that this form of carpentry exists. But they don’t need to act like it’s some deep philosophical thi g and super important and meaningful. It’s pretentious, carries a sense of superiority.



  12. Zeesabeti On Instagram on September 4, 2023 at 7:07 pm

    Is there seriously subtitles for an English speaking Japanese man?



  13. Zmart Kooky on September 4, 2023 at 7:12 pm

    All fine carpentry, Japanese or otherwise, is made using joints. nails are not usually structurally sound, and only used where no tension is present.



  14. 博瑞 on September 4, 2023 at 7:13 pm

    This is Chinese architecture and the dougong and sunmao techniques—japanese carpentry and architecture were all learned from China. These techniques were invented in China thousands of years ago, and there are hundreds of much older Chinese temples, palaces, pagodas that have withstood the world’s deadliest earthquakes for thousands of years. It’s so strange and insulting that a channel calling itself “China Uncensored” would disregard and erase Chinese architecture and its immense global influences like this.



  15. Art Diary on September 4, 2023 at 7:13 pm

    japanese carpentry shouts peace,serenity and calmness. im a big fan of japanese carpentry and ive been studying it for a few years not, i hope someday i can build furnitures and buildings like those too.



  16. Ashley Ember on September 4, 2023 at 7:14 pm

    Wabi Sabi😭😭😭



  17. A M on September 4, 2023 at 7:15 pm

    Pretty amazing still!



  18. Jon martin de III on September 4, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    i dont know if its cause im not very well educated at this or what, but i dont understand why you call this "japanese" joinery. How about china? How about korea? They also have similar architecture and not to forget that many japanese temples and houses took heavy inspiration on chinese architecture, so why call it ONLY JAPANESE joinery when China and Korea, 2 pretty known country uses these techniques as well and even have very similar architecture? Why japan when china has this technique for thousands of yrs, why japan when korea also uses this technique?



  19. Cole Sanders on September 4, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    Be one with nature…moves to New York City lol



  20. Aethyl Wulfe III on September 4, 2023 at 7:19 pm

    The last 100 years part, is really a real life example of Theseus ship paradox. I consider these buildings only 20 years old. Because that is when all the wood is replaced. There is an excellent culture of maintenance.



  21. Rafal Perek on September 4, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    As a man that works with wood for 15 years , I truly admire what you lot are doing. It s not carpentry its an art with full dedication to every single project 👌. Just looking on sons fingers and how he hold a chisel says perfection is a goal 😁. Keep up the good work and tradition in this sad times 👏



  22. Romwell Camat on September 4, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    For the algorithm!



  23. Grimmy Hendrix on September 4, 2023 at 7:21 pm

    I love the little apt setup in NY… But, the second I see the Macbook, I can’t take the guy seriously anymore.



  24. Konstantin Naumow on September 4, 2023 at 7:21 pm

    Mooooore i need more 😊



  25. Robert McGuinn on September 4, 2023 at 7:21 pm

    The only home worthy of this craft is the home of the maker. Everyone else is a faker.



  26. Raymond S. on September 4, 2023 at 7:23 pm

    Building large structures without the use of screws or nails is an entirely new concept to me. It never crossed my feeble American mind (kinda joking lol)



  27. Baila Hie on September 4, 2023 at 7:24 pm

    The real ‘Mr Miyagi’ has spoken… Mr. Hanafusa: wisdom in interior design.



  28. GasketManzrevenge on September 4, 2023 at 7:24 pm

    When it sings to your soul, dance.



  29. Ursa Minor on September 4, 2023 at 7:24 pm

    The equal respect that the tree slab guys had is inspiring. It was all a bit moving I must say



  30. shannon Bear on September 4, 2023 at 7:28 pm

    yeah the technique is called joinery



  31. G Y on September 4, 2023 at 7:29 pm

    Such a beautiful craft! I have a practical concern–how do the couple in NY manage with paper doors in the winter?



  32. Sam O'Hara-Childs on September 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm

    Immense work, limitlessly fascinating, plus so damn serene 😁👌💪



  33. Alfred Song on September 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm

    These objects made by Japanese Carpentry look just nice to ordinary people. But who appreciate the simple beauty and truth get repercussion to the innermost pat of their souls. As same reason as Buddhism or any religion reach to different peoples’ soul. During the 6-7 centuries China was the most civilized country, as the Western Scholars testified later. Then Chinese surgeons opened skulls and removed tumors including rockets shot to the sky. Later they invented the black powder that explodes. Thanks for this beautiful program.



  34. little cricket on September 4, 2023 at 7:33 pm

    I love Japanese carpentry. It’s very beautiful.



  35. Phoenix Blade on September 4, 2023 at 7:34 pm

    Wow you were so young!



  36. YummYakitori on September 4, 2023 at 7:34 pm

    These traditional brackets are called dougong (斗拱) from traditional Chinese architecture which were later exported to neighbouring Korea and Japan. Call it ‘traditional Japanese carpentry’ but please recognise that it originates from China during the late centuries BC



  37. Simple Home Art Decor Ideas on September 4, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    very majestic!!! 😲😲😲



  38. Totally Pitted on September 4, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    @ 5:10 guy rolls to work in the snow on a straight BMX! That’s my dude!!! Shreddin NYC!



  39. Smoke 4 Ever on September 4, 2023 at 7:46 pm

    Well



  40. HoppingGnome, the on September 4, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    Love how this is called "China Uncensored" but the major topic of this video isn’t about the "No Nail" technique of ancient China.



  41. CVYR on September 4, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    Should have watch the Chinese tradtional carpentary that build the Foribbiden city and ancient building that with stand earth quake. The Japanese carpentary skill are from China though,



  42. Caz Walt on September 4, 2023 at 7:48 pm

    Scandinavians used to build similar wooden churches without using nails



  43. Smoke 4 Ever on September 4, 2023 at 7:48 pm

    Very nice



  44. Kana Kitagawa on September 4, 2023 at 7:48 pm

    I’ve been sleeping on the floor for two months to put aside money for one of their futons. I’m picking it up in a few days and I’m so so excited… in a few more months I hope to buy their tatami raised bed. I’m in my 20s and hope to only buy things that will last me a lifetime 🙂



  45. jama newang on September 4, 2023 at 7:49 pm

    Ancient Korean carpenters build the temples



  46. Bill McCaffrey on September 4, 2023 at 7:49 pm

    I have built furniture and small buildings using these techniques, which we often refer to as traditional in western nations. I love building hand crafted furniture.



  47. Juggy Brodletin on September 4, 2023 at 7:51 pm

    This is a very interesting subject, but this documentary is so bad it almost seems to be parody. Nothing anyone says is profound or meaningful, its all pointless. Watch the show Documentary Now if you want more parody documentaries like this.



  48. Matthew Pol on September 4, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    Lol, feels both odd and familiar going back and seeing Chris without a beard.



  49. Musashi Senku on September 4, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    I want more of this show



  50. Smoke 4 Ever on September 4, 2023 at 7:54 pm

    Good hls dear .. arquitetury shal