This knot is a variation on a standard looped square knot. While any tight knot will hold most bamboo joints, this style of knot gives a neat, finished appearance and is the standard in most Japanese construction.
Construction Hints Never nail directly into bamboo.
Use a drill to create pilot holes slightly larger than the nail and a nail driver to avoid crushing the cane with your hammer. Use a bamboo saw or a fine hacksaw for cutting. Bamboo will rot after 2 or 3 years of continuous contact with the soil. Therefore, use hardwood posts for ground-contact supports. Apply natural preservatives like hemp oil or tung oil to bamboo.