A coffered ceiling. A ceiling with ribs framing recessed panels.
1 The simplest type of coffered ceiling is constructed with intersecting chamfered ribs *gōbuchi 格縁, which form relatively large square spaces up to about one meter square called gōma 格間 or *gō-ita 格板. The spaces are closed with plain wood panel backing called ura-ita 裏板. The ribs usually measure 6-7 cm in cross section. The chamfers on all outer edges vary from ceiling to ceiling. The gōtenjō is suspended from tie beams and is not part of the structural frame work as is the ordinary latticed ceiling *kumiire tenjō 組入天井, which has no coffers. Although associated with temples, shrines, and formal residences, chiefly from the Kamakura period and thereafter, the oldest extant example is the ceiling of the octagonal hall *Hakkakudō 八角堂, Eizanji 栄山寺 (757-64) in Nara. By the Momoyama and Edo periods, the coffers were elaborately decorated with paintings or with patterns woven in silk and metal decoration and then applied to the ribs.
Nikkō Tōshōgū Sakashitamon 日光東照宮坂下門 (Tochigi)
2 If the panel backing in each coffer is covered with a mesh of closely spaced latticework, the ceiling is called *kogumi gōtenjō 小組格天井. Example: Fukidera Daidō 富貴寺大堂 (late Heian period), Ōita Prefecture. This ceiling is found over the inner sanctuary. It is a finely latticed, coved, and coffered ceiling *oriage kogumi gōtenjō 折上小組格天井.
3 When the simple coffered ceiling is surrounded by a coved band with curved ribs directly in line with the ribs of the ceiling itself, it is called *oriage gōtenjō 折上格天井.
Kenchōji Butsuden 建長寺仏殿 (Kanagawa)
4 If the recessed panels in the coved and coffered ceiling are filled with closely spaced lattice applied to the panel backing, it is called a coved, coffered, and finely latticed ceiling or oriage-kogumi-gōtenjō. Example: Jōdoji Amidadō 浄土寺阿弥陀堂; Hiroshima Prefecture.
5 There are occasions when a part of a coved, coffered, and finely latticed is raised above the altar within the inner sanctuary of a temple. In this case, it is supported by curved ribs forming a second cove. Such a ceiling is called nijū oriage kogumi gōtenjō 二重折上小組格天井. Example; Fumon'in Hondō 普門院本堂, Fukuoka, early 14th century. It denotes high rank, and it is also found in the most important rooms in aristocratic residences of the *shoin 書院.