hikite 引手

Lit. hand pull. Commonly called door pull. A door pull added to sliding doors *fusuma 襖, or hinged doors to help open and close them with a pulling motion. Wood door pulls mokusei 木製 were common in ancient periods but in general door pulls were made of metal and called hikite kanagu 引手金具. Door pulls, especially in the shoin style *shoin-zukuri 書院造, particularly from the late 15th century on, began to have a wide variety of designs, some of which were also used for nail covers *kugikakushi 釘隠. The most elaborate door pulls were found on fusuma and cedar doors at Katsura Rikyū Shingoten 桂離宮新御殿 (mid-17th century), and Daigoji Sanbōin, 醍醐寺三宝院 (end 16th century), both in Kyoto. Door pulls were also used on the *chōdaigamae 帳台構え, doors concealing guardsmen. These doors had elaborate tassels and were called *fusahikite 総引手 or tasseled pulls. Door pull designs include: the character moon, tsuki 月; a design based on the shape of a woman's hat, ichimegasa 市女笠; matsuba 松葉 (pine needles); musubihimo 結紐 (stylized flowers), and buds to name a few. The term hikite is also used for drawer handles, and the handles used to open boxes. There are also handles with rings attached to pull open doors.