| 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. |
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. |
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. |
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 | 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. |
Architecture, Buildings, Structures | |
| tabigeta 旅桁 | 1 One of the purlins used in a hidden roof *noyane … |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| tachiagari 立上 | A vertical timber that rises from a level or inclined surface. In modular measurement of timber *… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| tachichōzubachi 立手水鉢 | ✓ | Lit. "standing water basin." A type of tall basin *chōzubachi 手水鉢 that can… |
Architecture, Gardens |
| tachisama 立狭間 | A loophole *sama 狭間 cut in a wall about chest high to a standing soldier.… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| tahōtō 多宝塔 | ✓ | A 2-storied pagoda that developed from the circular, roofed one called *hōtō 宝塔… |
Architecture, Buildings, Structures |
| tai-no-shiro 対の城 | Lit. "confronting castle." Also termed mukaijiro 向城 (facing castle) and *tsukejiro… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| taibō 大房 | Also pronounced daibō. A large room 6.7 m wide and 12.7 m deep, constructed in a style customary from about the mid… |
Architecture, Buildings, Structures | |
| taiheibire 大瓶鰭 | Also oigata 笈形, *gasshōhire 合掌鰭. A pair of decorative sculpted… |
Architecture, Decorations | |
| taiheizuka 大瓶束 | ✓ | Lit. "large bottle strut." A strut that is used mainly in Zen style architecture *… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| taiko-otoshi 太鼓落 | ✓ | The trimming or hewing of the opposite sides of a log so that the surfaces become flat and parallel making it easier to join… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| taikobari fusuma 太鼓張襖 | ✓ | Also called taikobari 太鼓張, fukuroshōji 袋障子, bōzufusuma 坊主襖. |
Architecture, General Terms |
| taikobashi 太鼓橋 | ✓ | Also called soribashi 反橋. An arched bridge made of stone or wood. One example is the Yoka Jinja 与賀神社 (1607) in Saga… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| taikodo 太鼓戸 | ✓ | A door frame covered on both sides with boards or panels. The inside of the door, like a drum taiko 太鼓, is empty.… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| taisha-zukuri 大社造 | ✓ | Also called ōyashiro-zukuri. The oldest style of shrine architecture. Its small scale is thought to resemble that… |
Architecture, Shrines |
| taishaku 大尺 | Lit. "large shaku 尺." An ancient unit of length. Introduced in the Taihōryō 大宝令 codes of 701, it measured 35.6 cm,… |
Architecture, Measurement | |
| taishidō 太子堂 | A hall either dedicated to Shōtoku Taishi 聖徳太子 (ca. 574-622), the second son of Emperor Yōmei 用明 (r. 585-87), or a building… |
Architecture, Buildings, Structures | |
| taka-no-hashi 鷹の嘴 | Lit. "hawk's beak." A decorative, curved pattern often found on moldings. The pattern has pointed tips like a bird's beak.… |
Architecture, Decorations | |
| takahei 高塀 | Also pronounced takahe. The gable walls of the central thatched portion kirizuma 切妻 of the roof *… |
Architecture, Folk Dwellings | |
| takahei-zukuri 高塀造り | Also pronounced takahe-zukuri. Lit. "high wall construction." Also called *… |
Architecture, Folk Dwellings | |
| takaikegaki 高生垣 | A hedge, 3 to 5 m high, planted as a wind screen or for fire control. |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| takaku-bashira 多角柱 | A pillar or post that is multi-sided or cut with many facets. |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| take-bashira 竹柱 | Lit. "bamboo post." One that has been squared off. |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| take-no-fushi ranma 竹の節欄間 | ✓ | Also take-no-fushi 竹の節. Lit. "bamboo joint transom." A type of transom shaped like a balustrade which became… |
Architecture, Decorations |
| take tokusabei 竹木賊塀 | ✓ | Lit. "bamboo and horsetail tokusa 木賊 fence." |
Architecture, Gardens |
| takegaki 竹垣 | ✓ | Lit. "bamboo fence." A generic name for any kind of fence made with bamboo. Specific types include *… |
Architecture, Gardens |
| takekugi 竹釘 | A bamboo nail. Usually the nail is 7.5 mm square and made from giant bamboo madake 真竹 (also nigatake 苦竹).… |
Architecture, Tea Houses | |
| takerenji 竹連子 | ✓ | Bamboo or bamboo muntins that are used for windows in dwellings where a suggestion of rusticity is needed, or in tea… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| takeshōji 竹障子 | Paper-covered bamboo frames used as full-sized sliding doors *shōji 障子, or the… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| takeyarai 竹矢来 | ✓ | Also written 竹柵. A roughly constructed bamboo fence with horizontal pieces placed close to the top, at the center, and at… |
Architecture, Gardens |
| takiguchi 焚口 | The stokehole or stokeholes in the side of a cooking range *kamado 竃. The… |
Architecture, Folk Dwellings | |
| takigumi-ishi 滝組石 | Lit. "waterfall stone arrangement." A type of stone arrangement used for garden waterfalls. Also pronounced taki-… |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| tako 蛸 | ✓ | A tool called a "punner" in English, used to pound down broken stones laid below the foundation of a building. It consists… |
Architecture, Tools |
| takudana 卓棚 | A set of decorative shelves used in an alcove. A single, high shelf with enclosed sliding doors is constructed slightly… |
Architecture, Aristocratic Dwellings | |
| tama-ishi 玉石 | Lit. "round stone." A boulder about 15-30 cm across, which has been naturally rounded by a river or ocean waves. Often… |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| tama-ishijiki 玉石敷 | ✓ | A type of paving using naturally rounded stones *tama-ishi 玉石, about 15-30 cm in diameter.… |
Architecture, Tea Houses |
| tamabuchi 玉縁 | Lit. "jewelled edge." |
Architecture, Roofing Tiles, Gardens | |
| tamagaki 玉垣 | ✓ | The generic term for a fence surrounding the square or rectangular space containing the main sanctuary *… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| Tamamushi no zushi 玉虫厨子 | The Tamamushi no zushi owned by Hōryūji 法隆寺 (mid-7th century) is also called the Beetle-wing Shrine, because of the… |
Architecture, Accessories | |
| tamen tahi 多面多臂 | Also *tamen kōhi 多面広臂. A Buddhist image with more heads, eyes, or limbs than… |
Architecture, Sculpture | |
| tamon 多聞 | Also termed tamon-zukuri 多聞造, tamon'yagura 多聞櫓 (many listen tower) and tamon nagaya 多聞長屋 (many… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| tan'itsubari 単一梁 | A solid, single beam made from one timber. The term is used to differentiate it from a composite beam called gōseibari… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| tana 棚 | Shelves. 1 A type of shelf, sometimes with a rack, of which there are many ordinary household… |
Architecture, General Terms, Aristocratic Dwellings, Tea Houses, Folk Dwellings | |
| tanamono 棚物 | A simplified portable shelf *daisu 台子 set on the host's mat *… |
Architecture, Tea Houses | |
| tanba-ishi 丹波石 | Lit. "Tanba stone." A type of granite from the Kameoka 亀岡 region, northwest of Kyoto. High in iron, it is used for pavements… |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| tanben 単弁 | A decorative motif used on the roof of a Japanese building. It consisted of a series of single petals with one leaf seedling… |
Architecture, Roofing Tiles | |
| tanben rengemon 単弁蓮華文 | ✓ | A stylized lotus flower motif with eight petals. Although it is a relatively simple arrangement, unlike the *… |
Architecture, Roofing Tiles |
| tani 谷 | The valley or trough that forms when two sloping roofs meet. |
Architecture, Roofing Tiles | |
| tanigawara 谷瓦 | 1 A generic term for roof tiles used in the valley of a roof. Valleys are formed when the ridges of two… |
Architecture, Roofing Tiles | |
| tanimendo 谷面戸 | Also called *mendo 面戸. The gap along both sides of the valley *… |
Architecture, Roofing Tiles | |
| tanjakumono 短尺物 | A timber shorter than the standard length. |
Architecture, General Terms |
Displaying 1 - 100 of 328