• Journal of architectural history
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.23-38
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• 2011

The Axes and Adzes are the oldest tools since the beginning of human history which is used to cut the tree and make part of architecture such as boards, square timber etc. Nowadays, these old woodworking tools especially "Jagui(자귀)" (adze) has been almost disappeared at the working site of residential and cultural properties. It is necessary to study Korean traditional woodworking tools to keep Korean traditional skill and technology. It has been reviewed the change of shape of "Jagui(자귀)" (adze) from before Samhan (삼한) period to Joseon Dynasty through excavated relics and paintings and summarize as follows: Based on excavation relics of Dahori, both plate type blade and pocket type blade are used for "Tokki(도끼)" (axe) and "Jagui(자귀)" (adze). The excavated "Jagui(자귀)" (adze) from Jeongbaikri 356 tomb, near Pyongyang is prototype of "Jagui(자귀)" (adze) used nowdays which has almost same shape as well as the insert method of blade and handle. The auxiliary handle is inserted to blade and the main handle is inserted to the auxiliary handle which is different from the method of Chinese and Japanese "Jagui(자귀)" (adze). The length of handle of "Jagui(자귀)" (adze) until late Joseon Dynasty is short by which we assume it is used for a sitting position as hand held Jagui and from that time long handle has been introduced for a standing position which is called "Sunjagui(선자귀)". "Jagui(자귀)" (adze) has been used since the beginning of human history but it is almost disappeared at the most of woodworking site which is the crisis of Korean traditional architecture and we have to do something to keep it.