Abstract
I investigated various reference documents and materials from before modern times with regard to logging and lumbering technology and tools，and would like to summarize the results of my investigation as follows:
(1) Stone axes were used as the major tools for logging about 2，000 years ago when iron axes (yoki) began to replace these tools， Saws were also used from around the late 16th century，
(2) Axes with wide blades (tatsuki) seem to have been used continuously until modern times as tools for chamfering raw lumber to produce roughly chamfered square lumber.
(3) Axes and wedges were used as tools to split large pieces of raw lumber into various sizes until around the 14th century. The use of two–man ripping saws (oga) apparently spread from around the 15th century， and that one–man broad–blade ripping saws (maehiki) came into use around the late 16th century.
(4) Chisels and wedges were used as tools to split small pieces of raw lumber into various sizes until around the1 4th century. Then one–man narrow-blade ripping saws (kagari)were apparently used from around the 15th century.
(5) As far as logging and lumbering artisans are concerned，some kotakumi(carpenters) became somahito (mountain woodcutters)，around the 5th century. Also around the 15th century，some somahito became ogahiki，or lumbermen using oga，and some kotakumi became kohiki，or lumbermen using kagari. Around the late 16th century. Some ogahiki became kohiki. or lumbermen using maehiki.
