A RESEARCH ON CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM OF TRADITIONAL WOODEN FOLK HOUSE “HIKIMUN” AND SELECTIVE USE OF WOOD SPECIES MAINLY CASTANOPSIS SIEBOLDII IN AMAMI-OSHIMA

In Amami-Oshima there are many forest resources and vegetation cover was mostly laurel trees like Castanopsis sieboldii. We investigated traditional wooden folk houses in Amami-Oshima. This report is mainly presented the wooden construction system called “Hikimun”. We researched seven traditional wooden folk houses at Sumiyou villages and Yamato villages there are the mountain area and at Kasari villages there are the plain area in Amami-Oshima. Castanopsis sieboldii was used as many parts except the main construction. As inter pillars and Hikimun, Schima wallichii were used. And about after 1945, Castanopsis sieboldii was used as a roofing called Hiraki.