oriage tenjō 折上天井

A coved ceiling. A ceiling raised by diagonally placed straight timbers *shirin 支輪, or curved ribs, oriage shirin 折上支輪 mounted on the ceiling lintel or plate placed on top of the room wall. The effect produced is that of soffits running the length of each wall. Occasionally, a small area within the ceiling is raised again in the same way and is called nijū oriage tenjō 二重折上天井. The elaboration of the ceiling in this way serves to accommodate a particularly tall statue or to emphasize the sanctity of the area around the altar in a Buddhist hall *butsuden 仏殿. In a raised area, jōdan-no-ma 上段の間 of *shoin 書院 style residences, such decorative and comparatively lofty ceilings may be installed to indicate the seat of the shogun.