Keywords
Architecture
Measurement
A unit of measurement still in use to ascertain the area of land, a building, a room, etc. It is roughly 182 cm x 182 cm (6' x 6'). The distance is based on the typical spacing of pillars and posts which is known as 1 (one) *ken 間 (ikken 一間). An area of 1 ken x 1 ken came to equal one square tsubo, or 3.3058 meters squared. The length of 1 ken differed during various ages. It could also vary according to the distance between pillars in temple or shrine buildings. It became standardized during the Edo period.