THE MODERN APPLICATION OF

TOKYO
WOOD BRACKET SYSTEM
OF

ANCIENT JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE

IN
YUSUHARA WOODEN BRIDGE MUSEUM
Tokyo wood Bracket

• unique feature of Traditional Japanese architecture

• essential support to the timber frame structure and
eaves of traditional Japanese buildings
• a combination system of weight bearing blocks (masu)
and bracket arms (hijiki)
• fitted together by joinery alone without glue or fasteners
 WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF TOKYO BRACKET SYSTEM ?

• Originated from ancient China

• Notable architectural component
call Dou Gong (wood bracket).
• earliest record of the use of Dou-Gong
in Zhou Dynasty
• widely used in the Spring and Autumn
Period
• Reach its peak in Tang and Song dynasty
• In Song Dynasty , form fully developed,
style unified , size standardized
• number of layers used depends on importance
of the building
• Also as a status symbol
• After Song Dynasty , Dougong become more ornamental
• 6th century , introduction of Buddhism influences
Japanese architecture
• large scale temple using complicated techniques in wood
• Japanese study architecture from Tang Dynasty
 HOW DOES IT FUNCTION AS A STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
FOR BUILDING ?

• Structural support for building

• Support weight of horizontal beams that span
the vertical columns by transferring the weight
on horizontal beams over a larger area to the
vertical columns.
• To support roof’s weight
• The further the eaves extend, the more complex
the tokyo be
• highly resistant to earthquakes
WHAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION METHOD OF TOKYO BRACKET SYSTEM ?

• Wood is the main material

• Multiple interlocking bracket sets
formed by placing block (Masu) on a
column to provide base for the bow-
shaped brackets (Hijiki) that support
the beam or another bracket above it.
 Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum

• Kengo Kuma & Associates

• Located at Yusuhara, town in the Kochi prefecture, Japan
• a covered gallery pedestrian bridge that connects a hotel and a spa,
which had previously been separated by a cliff and a road.
• also  as  accommodations, work   and exhibition  rooms
• 154-ft. span
• an interlocking beams system developed.
• Alternating arrangement of interwoven wooden beams creates a
construction which floats in the air, supported by a single central pillar.
• Long beams rest above shorter ones , whole structure tapers to a point at
a slender central column
• Columns on end merge with background surrounding
• The bridge evokes the traditional construction method of tokyo wood
bracket system employed in Japan
• By repeating this method persistently to the scale of a bridge, it creates
a new expression of architecture while having its authentic Asian
appearance.
THANK YOU
 References
• Wiborg,RS.(2010).Chinese Dou Gong Brackets.1-3.Retrieved from
http://www.richardwiborg.com/Chinese_Dou_Gong_Brackets
• Zhu,EC.,Chen,ZY.,Pan,JL.,Wang,LN.(2010).Finite Element Modelling Of The
Structural Performance Of Dou Gong Brackets Of YingXian Wood Pagoda,
June142,2.Retrieved from http://www.ewpa.com/Archive/2010/june/Paper_142.pdf
• (2013).Dougong.[website] Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougong
• (2013).Japanese Architecture.[website] Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_architecture
• (2013).Tokyō.[website] Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toky%C5%8D
• S,Lei.,Y,Guang.,Thetford,A.,Obregon,A.(2012). Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum.[website]
Retrieved from http://faculty.arch.tamu.edu/anichols/index_files/courses/arch631/case/2012/
YusuharaMuseum.pdf
• Kuma,K.,Carder,N.,Derkowski,K.,Pabila,J.(2012). Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum-Red
cedar bridge links traditional and contemporary expressions of Asian
architecture,Summer2012,23-24.Retrieved from http://wooddesign.dgtlpub.com/2012/2012-08
31/pdf/Yusuhara_Wooden_Bridge_Museum.pdf
 Image Resources
• http://img5.blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ybi/1/8f/21/cdblstb/folder/1573356/img_1573356_37876884_0?
1214745578
• http://www.gjzw.net/Images/UpFile/2010424223130535.jpg
• http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/29/89/wKgB3FD2HX-AIN8LAArV-WCBw2s31.groupinfo.w600.jpeg
• http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1000/20080325/000bcdb95f17095311065c.jpg
• http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/daodao/photo-s/03/60/58/5a/caption.jpg
• http://www.nipic.com/show/1/48/b7fd2454e9d1b590.html
• http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~kiyomin2/tokyou.html
• http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/83Arts12591.html
• http://www.gooood.hk/_d273332980.htm