For the Japanese, everything in life is a path to achieving perfection. The smallest activities become the pursuit of perfection. Creating bonsai, shaping trees, forging swords, origami, making tea! Everything is subordinated to the pursuit of the ideal. Bushidō and Buddhism are the foundations of the Japanese mentality and the way they perceive the world.
This approach set them on the path to achieving perfectly protected wood. Initially, the wood was preserved by using sea water, but it was not enough because the wood became gray and rough. It just wasn't perfect. The eighteenth century saw the beginnings of the technique of preserving wood through the use of fire. Initially, the Yakisugi / Shou Sugi Ban technique was used only with cedar wood, the basic building material of Japanese houses. The first Japanese craftsmen treated wood intended for building houses with fire until it obtained a charred surface. The process took quite a long time, but the effect and durability surprised them greatly. The layer of charred wood, devoid of nutritional value, became fireproof and provided protection against parasites and fungi for the layers below. It also automatically provided protection against rotting and rotting, and the effects lasted for several dozen years.
Wood subjected to this technique stained from black to light brown depending on the degree of charring. The lightly charred wood showed a beautiful grain pattern, showing amazing visual values. Today's craftsmen do not burn wood over a bonfire. Gas burners and professional furnaces are used for this purpose. The type of wood is also wide and it is not only cedar. The use of different types of wood produces various textures.
The YAKISUGI woodworking process can be divided into three stages:
- wood burning,
- hardening wood in cold water,
- brushing and securing with oil.
Correct execution of the technique preserves the wood for several dozen years. It also highlights the unique texture, different for each species. Currently, the following types of wood are used: pine, maple, oak, larch and giant arborvitae. Initially, wood secured using the YAKISUGI method was used to build houses. The appearance of concrete and plastic facade materials in the 20th century and the Japanese technique fell into oblivion for many years. Since the beginning of the 21st century, YAKISUGI has experienced a second youth, first in the USA, and then in Europe, hundreds of projects using fired wood have been created. It is used to build houses and fences, to create furniture and decorations, and to finish walls and floors. We are also joining this trend.
MEIBOKU
Michał Malawski