tsugite 継手

Also written 接手.

1　A generic term for joinery including spliced and angled joints. When used as a suffix in compounds, the te 手 is often dropped.

2　To join timbers end to end to increase their length; end or butt joints. Japanese joinery is divided broadly into two basic types: butt or straight joints, tsugite, and angle joints *shiguchi 仕口. Consideration must be given to parts of the tree from which the timber has been cut. There are three basic arrangements: a) yukiaitsugi 行合継, to join timber ends which were both close to the top of the trunk sueguchi 末口; b) wakaretsugi 別継, to join ends from the base of the trunk motoguchi 元口; c) okuritsugi 送継, to join two timbers, one end of which came from the upper part of the trunk and the other from the base. It is also important to note the location of the jointed member in relation to the timber to which it is attached: *shintsugi 真継, the joint itself is squarely set upon a supportive member such as a pillar; mochidashitsugi 持出継, the joint itself is in part of the member which extends beyond the supportive timber. This results in a certain weakness in the jointed member. Finally, the most fundamental methods of joinery include: a) kirikumitsugi 切組継, a joint dependent upon tenon *hozo ほぞ, and mortise *hozoana ほぞ穴; b) *koshikaketsugi 腰掛継, a lapped joint; c) soegi itatsugi 添木板継 or soegitsugi 添木継, a splint or brace joint; d) *sogitsugi 殺継, a scarf joint.