Keywords
Architecture
General Terms
Also called tenjō aratameguchi 天井改口. Lit. roof structure inspecting entrance. A trapdoor built into a ceiling to enter the loft or attic to examine the underside of the roof framing and sheathing or to locate leaks. A fine trapdoor that is cleverly made to look like part of the ceiling can be found in the Shoin 書院 at Kanchiin Kyakuden 観智院客殿 (Guest Hall, 1587) in Kyoto.