ishi 倚子

A square chair with armrests and a back in the form of a Shinto gateway *torii 鳥居, used by an emperor or people of high status during certain ceremonies. In modern Japanese, the term isu 椅子 (also sometimes written 倚子) is used for chairs in general. Armed chairs that were specifically used by Buddhist priests, especially those of the Zen sect, were called *kyokuroku 曲ろく. Other types of ishi that were used by priests include *jōshō 縄床, a simple rough chair with the back or seat wrapped in rope or cord, and *shōza 牀座, usually a simple square pedestal with four small legs, but in some cases it has arms and a back.