Proceedings e report - Firenze University Press

WOOD SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
properties. Fig. 1 shows a part of collections of wood samples from the historical buildings in the
Xylarium of RISH [1].
Fig. 1 Collection of wood samples from the historical buildings in the Xylarium of RISH.
2.2. Characterization of the naturally aging wood
Since hinoki (Chamaecyparis Obtusa Endl.) wood has been mostly used as a construction material in
Japan, eight hinoki samples were selected out of naturally aging wood from historical buildings
collected in the Xylarium of RISH; those are mainly from Prof. Kohara Collections (ca 200 pieces)
and from historical buildings listed in National treasure & cultural properties in Japan and identified
by Profs. Hamajima M (MJH), Kubodera S (RICPN) and Yano K (TUFA) from the viewpoints of
architectural and art histories.
The oldest samples came from the member of Horyuji temple built in 6 th century. The year of wood
formation of each sample was determined by dendrochronology done by Prof. Mitsutani T (RICPN)
and by radioactive carbon chronology by Prof. Imamura M, et. al. (MJH), respectively. The age of the
samples ranges from 500 to over 1600 years.
A: Kohara Collec B: Kohara Collec C: MJH D: MJH
E: Private owned F: MJH G: MJH H: RISH
Fig. 2 Hinoki (Chamaecyparis Obtusa Endl.) wood samples selected from historical buildings
Remarks: A-G , samples from Horyuji-temple, H, Senjuji-temple
Specimens cut out from each sample with the dimensions of 2 x 10 x 60 (L and R directions) mm
were dried and then the physical (density, equilibrium moisture content, colour properties, etc),
mechanical (moduli of rupture and elasticity in bending, yield energy, visco-elastic properties),
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