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Thatching Roofs and Yui

The thatched roofs of gassho-style houses get worn down by the elements and must be replaced at regular intervals, usually once every 20 to 30 years. In Shirakawa-go, thatching has traditionally been a cooperative effort that can involve up to 200 villagers at a time. The spirit of such cooperation, in which strict reciprocity is assumed, is referred to as yui. The owner of a house first calls upon his immediate neighbors, who are part of the same residents’ group (kumi). If the house is small, the thatching can be accomplished by a single kumi, while help from other parts of the village is required for larger buildings.

Before the age of plastic sheets, a roof had to be thatched in a single day, and most re-thatching projects still follow this schedule. The family of the house gathers before dawn to remove the old thatch and prepare the roof for the arrival of the yui participants, who are accorded different roles depending on their skills and experience. The most senior usually supervises the work, while young villagers are tasked with handing bundles of grass to the thatchers on the roof or cleaning up after them. Members of the house owner’s family serve refreshments during the day, and together with other villagers prepare a feast called naorai for all participants to partake of once the roof has been thatched.

The contributions of each yui participant, from work performed and thatching materials arranged to the number of sake bottles provided for the feast, are recorded in a booklet called a yui-cho. Such record-keeping helps ensure fairness and reciprocity, which are two of the key values of the yui tradition. The oldest yui-cho still in existence is from 1792, proving that the thatching of roofs has been a cooperative undertaking in Shirakawa-go for more than two centuries. Though re-roofing is nowadays usually carried out by professionals, villagers still get together at least once a year, usually in spring or autumn, to thatch a roof in the spirit of yui. This is done to make sure that the techniques involved are passed on to the next generation.

茅葺屋頂與「結」

「合掌造」民居的茅葺屋頂會因日曬雨淋而逐漸老朽，必須每20年或30年定期翻新一次。在白川鄉，更換屋頂一直都是社區互助合作的工作，最多時一次可能動用到200位村民。這種合作精神以嚴謹的互惠為前提，被稱為「結」。需要更換屋頂的屋主首先拜訪屬於同一個居民組的近鄰。如果房子小，一個組即可完成更換工作，但如果房子較大，就需要其他組的村民支援。

在塑膠膜還未出現的時代，茅草屋頂必須在一天內更換完畢，如今大多數更換屋頂的工作依然遵循這樣的時間安排。屋主一家要在天亮前聚集起來拆除舊茅草，為前來幫忙的「結」成員做好更新屋頂的準備。「結」成員會根據各自的技能和經驗承擔不同的任務，最年長者通常負責指導，年輕的村民則為在屋頂上鋪茅草的人遞送茅草束，或在工作結束後清理環境。屋主一家還要在這天為大家提供茶點小吃，並和其他村民一起準備一頓被稱為「直會」的宴席，在茅葺作業完成後招待所有參與者。

每位「結」成員的具體付出都會被記錄在一本被稱為「結帳」的冊子裡，從每個人所擔任的工作、準備的茅葺材料，乃至為宴席提供的清酒數量。保留記錄是為了確保公平性與互惠性，而這正是「結」傳統的兩大核心價值。現存最古老的「結帳」出自1792年，由此也可以證明，白川鄉互助協力完成茅葺屋頂更換工作這一傳統已經持續了至少兩個世紀以上。如今，更換屋頂的工作通常交由專業人士完成，但村民們為了確保茅葺技藝能夠一代代傳承下去，依然每年至少會在春季或秋季聚集一次，秉持「結」的精神，共同翻新一處屋頂。

茅葺屋顶与“结”

“合掌造”民居的茅草屋顶会因日晒雨淋而逐渐老朽，必须每20年或30年定期翻修一次。在白川乡，更换屋顶从来都是一项群体合作的工程，最多时一次可能动员到200位村民参与。这种合作精神以严格的互惠为前提，被称为“结”。需要更换屋顶的屋主首先拜访同属一个居民组的近邻。如果房屋小，动员一个居民组即可更换，但如果房屋较大，就需要其他组的村民支援。

在塑料膜还未出现的年代，茅草屋顶必须在一天内更换完毕，如今大多数更换屋顶的工作依然遵循这样的时间安排。主人一家要在天亮前拆除旧茅草，为前来帮忙的“结”成员做好更换屋顶的准备。“结”成员届时会根据各自的技能和经验承担不同的任务，最年长者通常负责监督，年轻的村民则为屋顶上的作业人员递送茅草束，或在工程结束后打扫卫生。屋主一家要在这天为大家提供茶点小吃，并和其他村民一起准备一顿被称为“直会”的宴席，在换顶工程完成后款待所有参与者。

每位“结”成员的具体付出都会被记录在一本被称为“结账”的册子里，从每个人所担任的工作、准备的茅葺材料，乃至为宴席提供的清酒数量，都有案可查。保留记录是为了确保公平性与互惠性，而这正是“结”传统的两大核心价值。现存最古老的“结账”出自1792年，由此也可以证明，白川乡互助协力完成茅草屋顶工程的传统已经持续了至少两个世纪以上。如今，更换屋顶的工作一般交由专业人士完成，但村民们为了确保茅葺技艺能够代代传承，依然坚持每年至少在春季或秋季聚集一次，秉持“结”的精神，共同翻新一处屋顶。