gensōdoko 原叟床

A style of alcove *tokonoma 床の間, attributed to Kakukasai Sōsa 覚々斎宗左 (also called Gensō Sōsa 原叟宗左, 1678-1730), the sixth tea master of the Omotesenke 表千家 school. A gensōdoko is characterized by a plank floor equal to the size of one *tatami 畳 mat with an alcove post *tokobashira 床柱, erected at an unspecified distance from the corner. This creates an alcove space that is somewhat smaller than normal. A gensōdoko is also characterized by a partial side wall with a large opening between the alcove post and the rear wall. A solid valence wall stretches between the alcove post and rear wall of the room but has no bottom frame. The alcove ceiling is made of panel board. The alcove floor is level with the matted floor which creates the feeling of the step-in type alcove *fumikomidoko 踏込床. Example; Boukō Sanjōhan no Chashitsu 暮雨巷三畳半の茶室, Aichi Prefecture.