ochitenjō 落天井

Lit. "dropped ceiling." Also called otoshitenjō 落し天井. A ceiling in a tea ceremony room above the host's mat *temaedatami 点前畳, that is constructed about 15 cm lower than the ceiling above the guests' mat. The lower ceiling emphasizes the humble spirit of the host as he sits and serves tea to his guests. A batten ceiling is common, but at times, mats made of cattails, ditch reeds, wickerwork *ajiro 網代, or thinly split boards are employed to create a rustic atmosphere *sōan 草庵. Example: Daitokuji Jukōin Kan'in-no-seki 大徳寺聚光院閑隠の席 and Shinjuan Teigyokuken 真珠庵庭玉軒, both in Kyoto.