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temples, tiles are often used. The casing of the walls is thick Kiaké planking on the outside and sometimes thinner Shinoké planks as a lining on the inside. The outside is generally ornamented by panels of carved work illustrative of some legend or romance of the religion to which the temple was dedicated. The projecting ends of the beams of the roof have often some fantastic device carved on them, and are sometimes merely covered with copper to protect them from the effects of the weather. The joints of the various beams are also covered with copper. The timbers used in the structure are joined together by mortices, scarfs or dovetails in such a way that metal fixings are seldom required and, with the exception of a few small nails, are but little used. But there is the same want of diagonal struts or ties in the framework of the temples as in the framewark of the dwelling-houses, and while the execution of the practical carpentry is generally excellent and the wood always of the best description, the manner of their construction is, in this respect, decidedly faulty. There are many temples in Japan from 200 to 300 years old, such as Shiba in Yedo which is 270 years old, and the wood used in them is still fresh and sound. A very fine modern specimen exists at Naruto about 30 miles to the North East of Yedo which is much thought of, and which was only built 18 years ago, but neither do the principles nor the details of its construction differ in any way from the ordinary specimens.
In some branches of carpentry the Japanese are very expert, and as their buildings are almost entirely of wood the concentrated energy of the people seems to have been devoted to this branch of building. The neatness of their work is very noticeable, the joints of the timbers are made with the greatest nicety, and as paint is never used, these are exposed, and are so made an object of especial care. The frames of their paper windows are generally models of delicate workmanship and the carved ornamentation in their houses or temples is generally beautifully executed. But when we come to the higher branches of carpentry, such as the arrangement of various beams so that they
