kōshi 格子

Keywords
Architecture
General Terms

Latticework or grille. Normally latticework is made of wood and grille made of metal. Both are laid out in a grid. The most common type of latticework is composed of vertical and horizontal strips, and is called tateyoko gōshi 竪横格子. Vertical strips of lattice are called kōshiko 格子子 and horizontal strips are called *nuki 貫. This combination is often seen in the gable pediment *tsuma 妻, of hip-and-gable roofs *irimoya-zukuri 入母屋造, of buildings dating from the late 15th century. This type of lattice is called *kitsune gōshi 狐格子 and also fills the frames of sliding partitions that divide the area, for devotees *gejin 外陣, from the inner sanctuary *naijin 内陣, of Shingon 真言 or Tendai 天台 sect buildings. In the transoms *ranma 欄間, above these sliding latticed partitions is another latticework with strips of wood placed diagonally to form a lozenge or diamond shaped pattern called *hishi gōshi 菱格子. Sujikai gōshi 筋違格子 is also composed of diagonal muntins used in framework for sliding doors *shōji 障子. Latticed sliding doors kōshido 格子戸 are found in vernacular housing and gates. When narrow lattice or lattice strips with different widths are arranged in groups with equal intervals among the groups, this is called *fukiyose 吹寄. Latticework in crisscross, kōshi ranma 格子欄間, diamond or grouped patterns are also used in the transoms above opaque sliding screens *fusuma 襖, which can divide living space into separate rooms. Latticework is also used against a solid wooden backing. If lattice is used in a panel hame 羽目, it is called kōshi bame 格子羽目. There are many names for various patterns of latticework. Kyō gōshi 京格子 and ōsaka gōshi 大阪格子 are each characteristic respectively of Kyoto and Osaka; and tsuma gōshi 妻格子 are used in gable pediments of hip-and-gable roofs.