Refereed, Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ), Architectural Institute of Japan, RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION COLUMN IN VERNACULAR HOUSES OF EDO PERIOD, Teisuke SAKAI, This paper analyzes "Gohira" columns, rectangular cross section columns, in “Minka”, vernacular houses. The subject to research is "Gohira" columns in 227 vernacular houses designated as Important Cultural Properties. "Gohira" column's ratio of long side to short side in this paper is over 1.2 to 1. Three purposes in "Gohira" column are revealed as below.
First main purpose is aim of design which the carpenters pretended to be thick column while conserving materials. "Gohira" columns are distributed in “Hiroma”, which is living room, “Doma”, which is earth floored area, side of entrance of “Doma”, or outside appearance. However it is not distributed in Guest room, “Zashiki”. A large number of "Gohira" columns exist in east area of Japan and Mid-Edo period. In this case, average ratio of long side to short side is 1.28 to 1.
Second purpose is low accuracy of carpenter's process. In this case, directions of "Gohira" columns in vernacular houses are not systematic, namely long side of "Gohira" columns are not all front.
Third purpose is to adjust width of column to “Tatamiwari”, which is the system to adjust bays of columns to dimensions of “Tatami”, which is floor covering mat. This purpose is due to construction method mainly, however this is also due to design to pretend to be thick colum.
A large number of "Gohira" columns exist in east area of Japan and Mid-Edo period., Feb. 2019, 84, 756, 457, 464, Scientific journal, 坂井禎介「近世民家の五平柱 近世民家における意匠操作 その1」『日本建築学会計画系論文集756』(日本建築学会,2019. 2, pp. 457-464).pdf, False, 10.3130/aija.84.457