katōmado 火灯窓

Also written 花頭窓. A synonym for genjimado 源氏窓. The name is derived from the window in the room called Genji-no-ma 源氏の間 at Ishiyamadera Hondō 石山寺本堂, Shiga Prefecture. A window with a special curvilinear top part called *katō kyokusen 火灯曲線 or simply *katō 火灯. The window has an ogee-type pointed top with a series of S-like curves on either side of the peak. It dates from end of the Muromachi period to the Momoyama period. A katōmado is mainly associated with Zen style *zenshūyō 禅宗様 temple buildings. The oldest extant example of this window can be found in the Engakuji *Shariden 円覚寺舎利殿 in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is thought to reflect the Chinese style perfectly. From the latter quarter of the 16th century onward, the use of katōmado appears in temple and shrine buildings, castles and dwellings. Katōmado are seldom seen in the rustic type of tea ceremony houses. From the early 17th century onward, ogee and S-like curves became higher and deeper. The vertical frames were widened and sometimes flared toward the base. Some were embellished with metal ornamentation. Over time, the frame became almost circular. Example: Nishihonganji Shoin Taimenjo 西本願寺書院対面所 (ca. 1624) Kyoto. The tendency to develop new shapes resulted in the warabikatō 蕨火灯 where the top of the frame on each side curves so that the ends meet in the center resembling the shapes of curled bracken sprouts. This can be seen at Daitokuji Kohōan 大徳寺孤篷庵 (late 18th century) Kyoto.