Tile maker - Kawarashi

A craftsman who manufactures and sells tiles and roofing tiles. In the late Heian period in the 12th century, when the demand for tiles increased, specialized craftsmen called tile makers who manufactured and sold tiles became independent. From the Kamakura period in the 13th century, there were many orders from temples, and tile makers were also called tile carpenters, and they established a firm position as a construction craftsman alongside carpenters and plasterers. Around this time, tile roofing also began. Tile makers were considered to be resident workers, while tile roofers were considered to be employed on a temporary basis. In the Edo period in the 17th century, as cities developed, tiling of private homes became more common, and the demand for tiles increased rapidly. Tile makers were born and concentrated in Kyoto, Osaka, and castle towns throughout Japan. Tile makers came to be called tile makers. Specialized production areas also emerged in various regions. As tile roofing became more widespread, a new type of roofing product called lattice tiles was invented at the end of the 17th century. Unlike traditional honkawaraburi roofing, which used both flat and round tiles, this new system allows roofers to use only flat tiles, combining the functions of both. Tile laying is done by a team of one craftsman and one assistant who lifts the tiles and kneads the mud. The kiln is the same type as pottery kilns, but has a single chamber. Apart from three-dimensional onigawara (demon tiles) and shachi (roof tiles) with complex irregularities, flat, round, and sanzan tiles, which have set standards, are made by kneading clay with a wooden hoe and pouring it into a mold, then shaping it with a bamboo spatula, drying it, and then putting it in a kiln and firing it with firewood. Carbon scattered by the decomposition of the firewood sticks to the surface of the tile, giving it its black color. Today, new roofing materials have been developed and the demand for tiles is decreasing, but the work of tilers remains important.

[Motoo Endo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

瓦を製造・販売また屋根葺(ふ)きする職人。瓦の需要が高まってきた12世紀の平安後期に、瓦を製造・販売する瓦焼(やき)といわれる専門職人が独立していた。13世紀の鎌倉期からは寺院からの注文が多く、瓦焼は瓦大工ともいわれ、建設職人の一つとして大工・左官と並んで確固たる地位を築いた。このころでは瓦の屋根葺きもするようになっていた。瓦焼は居職(いじょく)、瓦葺きは出職(でしょく)になる。17世紀の江戸期には都市の発展とともに民家の屋根の瓦葺きが進んできて、瓦の需要は急速に増加し、京都・大坂や各地の城下町に瓦師が誕生し集住していた。瓦焼は瓦師とよばれるようになったのである。また各地に特産地もできた。そうした瓦葺きの普及のなかで、17世紀末には桟(さん)瓦という新しいものがくふうされた。これまでの平瓦と丸瓦とで葺く本瓦葺きに対して、平瓦だけで葺けるようにし、いわば平瓦と丸瓦の機能を結び付けたのである。瓦葺きは、職人1人に瓦の手上げと泥こねをする手元1人の組として行われる。窯は陶器の窯と同じ方式であるが単房である。複雑な凹凸のある立体的な鬼瓦や鯱(しゃち)瓦は別として、規格の決まった平瓦・丸瓦・桟瓦などは、粘土を木鍬(きくわ)でこねて型に入れ、竹べらで成型し、乾かしてから窯に入れて薪(まき)で焼成する。薪の分解で飛び散った炭素が瓦の表面について黒い色になる。今日では新しい屋根材料ができて、瓦の需要は減ってきているが、瓦師の仕事はなお重要である。

［遠藤元男］

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