Skip to main content

JAANUS

  • # (1)
  • a (84)
  • b (50)
  • c (97)
  • d (101)
  • e (52)
  • f (65)
  • g (89)
  • h (302)
  • i (114)
  • j (75)
  • k (550)
  • m (274)
  • n (219)
  • o (118)
  • r (69)
  • s (465)
  • t (278)
  • u (84)
  • w (37)
  • y (134)
  • z (26)
  • (-) Architecture (115)
  • Accessories (5)
  • Aristocratic Dwellings (2)
  • Art History (4)
  • Buildings (15)
  • Castles (6)
  • Decorations (5)
  • Folk Dwellings (7)
  • Gardens (9)
  • Gates (2)
  • General Terms (37)
  • Painting (2)
  • Roofing Tiles (8)
  • Sculpture (2)
  • Shrines (3)
  • Structures (14)
  • Tea Houses (17)
  • Tools (1)

Displaying 1 - 100 of 115
Title Contains Image(s) Description Keywords
bai 唄 ✓

A circular nail head cover *kugikakushi 釘隠, placed over a nail to attach a…

Architecture, Decorations
baijō 梅杖

Lit. plum post. A wooden post used to support the heavy but structurally weak branches of old plum trees.

Architecture, Gardens
baikenmon 梅軒門

Lit. plum eaves gate. Also written 梅見門. A type of gate used in tea gardens *roji…

Architecture, Tea Houses
baku 瀑

A cascade. A type of garden waterfall in which the water falls at a 90 degree angle. One common type of baku is the…

Architecture, Gardens
bakuhana 獏鼻 ✓

Lit. tapir nose. Also called bakugashira 獏頭. A type of nosing *kibana…

Architecture, Decorations
bakuryō 曝涼

Lit. airing. Also called mushiboshi 虫干. The practice of inspecting and airing valuables that have been in storage…

Architecture, General Terms
ban 盤

A heavy wooden plank placed above the ceiling of the first story of a two-storied pagoda *…

Architecture, General Terms
banbei 蕃塀 ✓

Also pronounced hanbei. A single, free-standing, short timber fence placed as a guard in front of the north, east,…

Architecture, Shrines
banchi ばん池

Also called hanchi 畔池 written with the character ばん池, to indicate a 'halved pond.' Lit. levee pond. A type of…

Architecture, Gardens
banjiro 番城

Short for zaiban shijō 在番支城. A branch castle *shijō 支城, with…

Architecture, Castles
banshin 番神

Also kyakushin 客神, ishin 夷神. Also written 蛮神 banshin. Gods that were thought to have originated…

Architecture, Shrines
banzuke 番付

A system used to label each structural members of a building before construction, while being dismantled for repair, or…

Architecture, General Terms
battari shōgi ばったり床几

Alternative term for a shop-front shutter and folding table *agemise …

Architecture, Folk Dwellings
bentendō 弁天堂

Also called benzaitendō 弁才天堂. A small structure that houses an image of Benten 弁天 (Sk: Sarasvati, *…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
betsugū 別宮

Also bessha 別社, edamiya 枝宮, or edayashiro 枝社.

A god is enshrined or venerated as being…

Architecture, Shrines
betsuin 別院

Also called *gobō 御坊. In the Nagoya area, it is called kakesho…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
biseki 尾石

Lit. tail stone. A stone in a rock garden that represents the tail of a tortoise *…

Architecture, Gardens
bishamon kikkō 毘沙門亀甲

A decorative pattern composed of three joined hexagonal shapes. It is named after the guardian deity *…

Architecture, Decorations
bishamondō 毘沙門堂 ✓

A temple hall dedicated to *Bishamonten 毘沙門天, one of the four gods, or *…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
biwa-ita 琵琶板

Also written 枇杷板.

1 The board inserted between a bottle strut *…

Architecture, General Terms
bokashi 暈

1 A gradation of colors or tones from dark to light or vice versa. One example is colorization of the…

Architecture, Decorations, Art History, Painting
bokuseki 墨跡

Black ink brush writing by Zen 禅 priests, as well as by laymen who practiced Zen meditations and wrote Buddhist sermons, or…

Architecture, Tea Houses
bokusekimado 墨蹟窓

A window on the side wall of an alcove *tokonoma 床の間, used to provide light…

Architecture, Tea Houses
bonjimon 梵字文 ✓

Lit. Sanskrit motif. A Sanskrit character, bonji 梵字, that decorates pendants *…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
bōrōgata tenshu 望楼型天守 ✓

A lookout tower set atop the roof of a residence *kyokan 居館, usually a…

Architecture, Castles
botan karakusa 牡丹唐草

1 Abbreviation of botan karakusagawara 牡丹唐草瓦. A roof tile, often an eaves-end tile, whose pendant…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles, Painting, Art History
bōzumi 棒隅

Lit. straight corner.
1 Buildings of any traditional type without curves on structural members under the…

Architecture, General Terms
budō karakusamon 葡萄唐草文 ✓

Also abbreviated to *budō karakusa 葡萄唐草. A grape-patterned arabesque used…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
bugakuryū teien 武学流庭園

Lit. garden of the Bugaku lineage. A style of Japanese garden developed in the middle of the Edo period by Ōishi Bugaku 大石武学…

Architecture, Gardens
buke-zukuri 武家造

A style of residential architecture in use among the bushi 武士 or warrior class. As defined by the early 20th-…

Architecture, General Terms
bukku 仏供

Also jukubukku 熟仏供, butsuhan 仏飯, or butsushō 仏餉. Cooked rice made as an offering to the Buddha,…

Architecture, General Terms
bunmawashi 規 An old term for a compass used to draw circles. They were imported from Portugal. The beam compass has a large radius,… Architecture, Tools
buntōgata 分棟型 ✓

Lit. divided-ridge style. Often abbreviated to buntō 分棟 and sometimes referred to as betsumune-zukuri…

Architecture, Folk Dwellings
burō 廡廊

A corridor that enclosed an open area or surrounded a space in which buildings were erected. A term from the 7th-9th century…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
bussharitō 仏舎利塔

Also called *sharitō 舎利塔. A reliquary in a stupa or pagoda. These could be…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
busshōya 仏餉屋 ✓

Also called gokusho 御供所. A Buddhist building used to prepare ritual food offerings called busshō 仏餉, *…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
busshudana 仏守棚 Lit. Buddha protecting shelf. A type of decorative shelf with sliding-door cabinets on the bottom and an ogee-shaped… Architecture, Aristocratic Dwellings
butaigamachi 舞台框

Lit. stage framework. A framing member that runs the entire width of the upper part of a *…

Architecture, General Terms
butaikabe 舞台壁

Lit. proscenium wall. The wall at the front part of a *kabuki 歌舞伎 stage.

Architecture, General Terms
butsudan 仏壇 ✓

An altar or tabernacle in the form of a podium, table, recess, or cabinet used in the sanctuaries of temples and in private…

Architecture, Folk Dwellings
butsudan-no-ma 仏壇の間 ✓

A room in traditional vernacular houses *minka 民家, in parts of Hyōgo Prefecture…

Architecture, Folk Dwellings
butsuden 仏殿 ✓

Also *daiyū hōden 大雄宝殿. The main hall of a Zen temple. Butsuden…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
butsudō 仏堂

Also called *butsuden 仏殿; bukkaku 仏閣, *…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
butsuma 仏間

A room for Buddhist images (either two- or three-dimensional images) or, especially in a residence, an altar or tabernacle…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures, Folk Dwellings
butsumon 仏門

Lit. Buddha's gate. Also *nandaimon 南大門; *…

Architecture, Gates
buzai 部材

A generic term for the structural members which form the framework *honegumi…

Architecture, General Terms
byōbudana 屏風棚

A type of decorative double hanging shelf *tsuridana 釣棚, placed in an alcove…

Architecture, Accessories
byōbuori 屏風折

Also termed *orihei 折塀 (folding wall). A castle wall that zig-zags…

Architecture, Castles
byōmon 廟門 ✓

Also called reibyōmon 霊廟門. An entrance gate to a mausoleum. It can be an elaborate gate in two-storied or simulated…

Architecture, Gates
byōtō 廟塔

Lit. mausoleum pagoda.
1 A pagoda constructed to enshrine a Buddhist image.
2 A five…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
fudegaeshi 筆返し ✓

A curved wooden border attached to the end of a desk or shelf to prevent brushes and scrolls from rolling off. It is also…

Architecture, Aristocratic Dwellings
Fudōdō 不動堂

A hall in a Buddhist temple dedicated to the deity *Fudō Myōō 不動明王 (Sk:…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
fuebashira 笛柱

Lit. flute post. The thick post at the right rear corner of a noh stage, *…

Architecture, General Terms
fugendō 普賢堂 ✓

Also called Shigatsudō 四月堂; *Sanmaidō 三昧堂. A Buddhist temple in which the main deity…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
fujigata chōzubachi 富士形手水鉢 ✓

Lit. Fuji shape. A common type of *shizenseki chōzubachi 自然石手水鉢,…

Architecture, Gardens
fukasanjō 深三畳

Also fukasanjō-no-seki 深三畳席. A tea ceremony room of three mats. One of the mats is about one quarter normal size,…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fukiashi 葺足 ✓

The length of the visible surface of an ordinary broad, concave roofing tile, *…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
fukikaeshi 吹返

1 Also written 葺返. A board which projects diagonally out from the top of a statue canopy, *…

Architecture, Accessories, Sculpture, Art History
fukinukimon 吹貫門

A gate without doors. It may be a roofed opening in a fence or wall, but no gate leaves are hung on the structure.

Architecture, Castles
fukioroshi 葺下

Also written 葺卸. The extension of a roof or the elongation of eaves on the main part of a building in order to cover an…

Architecture, General Terms
fukitsuchi 吹土

The layer of clay spread on sheathing, *shitaji 下地, sometimes called …

Architecture, General Terms
fukiyose 吹寄

1 The arrangement of muntins, lattice (*fukiyose gōshi…

Art History, General Terms, Sculpture, Architecture
fukiyose daruki 吹寄垂木 ✓

The grouping of two or three parallel rafters placed closely together with a wide space between each group. The spaces…

Architecture, General Terms
fukiyose gōshi 吹寄格子 ✓

Lit. grouped or varying numbered lattice. Lattice or small beams arranged to form patterns in transoms, *…

Architecture, General Terms
fukiyosebashira 吹寄柱 Evenly spaced pillars or posts that are arranged so that two or more are in line. The amount of the space between the… Architecture, General Terms
fukubachi 伏鉢

Also written 覆鉢; also called fukuhatsu ふくはつ. The small inverted bowl-like fixture placed on the box-like cover, *…

Architecture, General Terms
fukuben 複弁

A motif which consists of a double-stylized lotus petal with a leaf seedling in each petal. Found on the pendant, *…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
fukuben rengemon 複弁蓮華文 ✓

Also written 複弁蓮花文. A double-lotus-petal motif applied to the pendant tiles, *gatō…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
fukugō tenshu 複合天守 ✓

Also fukugōshiki tenshu 複合式天守. A large tower, *daitenshu 大天守, with…

Architecture, Castles
fukumi 含 ✓

A channel. The part of a bearing block, *masu 斗, that is cut out either as a one-…

Architecture, General Terms
fukurin 覆輪

1 Parallel lines used to mark outlines in a painting or sculpture.

2 A narrow band…

Architecture, Decorations
fukurō 複廊 ✓

A double corridor that was two bays, *ken 間, wide. Window frames with vertical…

Architecture, Buildings, Structures
fukurodana 袋棚

Also fukurotodana 袋戸棚 or tenbukuro 天袋. Lit. enclosed shelf.

1 A small cupboard…

Architecture, Tea Houses, Folk Dwellings
fukurodoko 袋床

Lit. pouch or pocket alcove. An alcove, *tokonoma 床の間, characterized by a…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fukurokakekugi 袋掛釘

Lit. bag-hanging nail. A bamboo or iron nail inserted into the middle post, *…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fukusa 袱紗

Also chabukusa 茶袱紗. A thick silk cloth used by the host at a tea ceremony to wipe tea bowls, *…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fumi-ishi 踏石 ✓

Lit. stepping stone. The stone placed directly under the crawl door entrance, *…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fumichidana 文道棚

A very simple type of shelving with sliding doors at floor level. Typically, the shelving is part of the many different…

Architecture, Accessories
fumikomi-datami 踏込畳

A straw mat, *tatami 畳, which is placed adjacent to the door from which the…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fumikomidoko 踏込床 ✓

Also fungomidoko ふんごみ床. An alcove, *tokonoma 床の間, with a board floor…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fuminugiishi 踏脱石

Lit. one of the trump stones, *yaku-ishi 役石, at the guest's entrance to the…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fumisagari 踏下

The distance from the ridge of a roof, *munagi 棟木, to the eave end, *…

Architecture, General Terms
fumiwake-ishi 踏分石 ✓

Lit. path-dividing stone. A type of trump stone, *yaku-ishi 役石. A stepping…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fumizura 踏面

Also called fumi-ita 踏板. The horizontal surface, known as the tread, on steps or stairs. The board, plank, or…

Architecture, General Terms
funagata chōzubachi 舟形手水鉢 ✓

Lit. boat shape. A type of functional or decorative water basin, *chōzubachi…

Architecture, Gardens
funahijiki 舟肘木 ✓

A boat-shaped bracket arm placed directly on top of a pillar to carry a purlin, *gagyō…

Architecture, General Terms
funatsukiishi 舟着石

Lit. A boat-landing stone. A large, flat stone used as a kind of dock in large pond gardens where boating took place. Even…

Architecture, Gardens
funazoko tenjō 舟底天井

Also called *yakata tenjō 屋形天井, an upside-down houseboat-shaped ceiling. A…

Architecture, General Terms
furesumi 振隅

Refers to the pitch of a roof that is different on the front and back from the pitch of the sides. The hip rafters at the…

Architecture, General Terms
furesumigi 振隅木

A hip rafter, *sumigi 隅木, which cannot bisect the purlins, *…

Architecture, General Terms
furiwake 振分

The center line of a surface that has been divided equally. The line may run vertically or horizontally. This center point…

Architecture, General Terms
furo 風炉 ✓

A portable brazier used in the spring and summer seasons when the hearth or fire-box, *ro…

Architecture, Tea Houses
furoku 不陸 Lit. not horizontal. A surface which is not flat or horizontal to the ground. Architecture, General Terms
furosaki byōbu 風炉先屏風

Sometimes abbreviated to furosaki 風炉先. A partition used in a tea ceremony room *…

Architecture, Tea Houses
furosakimado 風炉先窓

Lit. window in front of stove. A window opened in the wall by the host's mat, *…

Architecture, Tea Houses
fusa 総

Also written 房.

1 A tassel, tuft, fringe, cluster, or bunch.

2 Silk is for the elite and rough fabric for…

Architecture, Accessories
fusahikite 総引手

Tassels attached to the pull, *hikite 引手, of an opaque sliding screen, *…

Architecture, Accessories
fuse-zu 伏図

A framing plan showing the structural arrangement and details of various parts of a building including the floor, ceiling,…

Architecture, General Terms
fusegawara 伏瓦

Also called *ogawara 男瓦 (male tile).

1 A semi…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
fusen 布泉

An abbreviation of fusen no chōzubachi 布泉の手水鉢. A type of water basin, *…

Architecture, Gardens

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Next page ››
  • Last page Last »

Contributor Login

JAANUS is the on-line Dictionary of Japanese Architectural and Art Historical Terminology compiled by Dr. Mary Neighbour Parent.

Originally built by the Atsumi International Scholarship Foundation, it is now hosted and maintained by the Media Center for Art History at Columbia University