Kigumi
/kiːˈɡuːmi/noun
A Japanese woodworking technique in which wooden members are joined without nails, screws, or metal fasteners.
Did you know?Traditional kigumi joinery relies on precisely cut interlocking joints, allowing structures to flex subtly during earthquakes rather than depending entirely on brittle metal fasteners.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
木 (ki)
“Tree or wood”
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
組む (kumu)
“To assemble, arrange, or join together”
Pre-modern Japanese
Japanese
木組み (kigumi)
“An assembly or framework made by joining pieces of wood”
19th–20th Century
Japanese
木組み
“Traditional timber framing using carefully fitted wooden joints”
Modern English
English
kigumi
“A Japanese system or technique of nail-less timber construction”