| 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 | |
| uchi-umadashi 内馬出 | Lit. "inner horse exit." A defensive installation *umadashi 馬出 constructed to fortify the… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| uchibori 内堀 | 1 The inner moat of a castle that has two or more moats. |
Architecture, Castles | |
| uchidashinomi 打出し鑿 | A strike-through chisel. Normally, when constructing a pass-through mortise, the timber is carved away from both sides with… |
Architecture, Tools | |
| uchigenkan 内玄関 | A subordinate entry in houses possessing a formal guest entry *genkan 玄関, and… |
Architecture, Aristocratic Dwellings, Folk Dwellings | |
| uchiguruwa 内郭 | Also read naikaku. Also called naijō 内城. An inner compound. Generally, it refers to the central… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| uchikaeshi 打返し | Also pronounced uttegaeshi 打って返し, utasegaeshi 打たせ返し. Perfect symmetry on both sides of a center line… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uchikomihagi 打込矧ぎ | ✓ | Lit. "pounded and inserted stone joinery." The most common stone work technique used to build a dry construction castle wall… |
Architecture, Castles |
| uchikorobi 内転 | Pillars *hashira 柱 with an inward incline. Uchikorobi… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uchikoshi daruki | ✓ | Rafters *taruki 垂木 that extend from the flying rafter support *… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| uchimasugata 内桝形 | Lit. "inner square box." A type of walled compound *masugata 桝形… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| uchinori 内法 | ✓ | 1 The inside measurement between the inner sides of two posts or pillars *… |
Architecture, Measurement |
| uchinorinuki 内法貫 | A penetrating tie beam *nuki 貫 placed directly on top of a door or… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uchinorizai 内法材 | Also called uchinorimono 内法物. The wooden materials used for the framework of a sliding screen *… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uchiroji 内露地 | Inner tea garden. The part of the double tea garden nijū roji 二重露地, between the middle gate *… |
Architecture, Tea Houses | |
| uchisoto hachimonji 内外八文字 | A type of loophole *sama 狭間. An opening in a wall for soldiers to… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| udatsu-bashira うだつ柱 | 1 A wide post at the interface between the earth-floored space *doma… |
Architecture, Folk Dwellings | |
| udatsu 卯立 | ✓ | Also written 卯建, 宇立, うだつ; all read udachi, odatsu, or odachi. |
Architecture, Folk Dwellings |
| udatsuya うだつ屋 | 1 A rudimentary thatched dwelling hut or ancillary structure with a gable roof *… |
Architecture, Folk Dwellings | |
| udegi 腕木 | 1 A relatively short horizontal timber that functions like a brace. It is attached to and extends outward… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| udegimon 腕木門 | ✓ | Also called *kidomon 木戸門. A simple gate with two main posts… |
Architecture, Gates |
| uganju 拝所 | An open site, generally in Okinawa, devoid of any kind of structure, from where the gods are worshipped. Most sites are… |
Architecture, Buildings, Structures | |
| uguisubari 鴬張 | Lit. "nightingale floor." Floor boards which rub together when walked on to produce a pleasant and delicate sound. This type… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uguisugaki 鴬垣 | Lit. "bush warbler fence." A common type of rustic sleeve fence *sodegaki… |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| ukebana 受花 | ✓ | Also written 請花, 受華, 請華; sometimes pronounced ukehana. Flower-shaped support. A support in the shape of an open,… |
Architecture, Sculpture, Decorations, Art History |
| ukedai 受台 | Also *chūdai 中台. Middle base. |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| ukegi 受木 | A generic term for all supporting or receiving structural members. For example, a timber that receives an eave cornice is… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| ukeza 受座 | The indentation in the middle of the base *kiso 基礎 of a lantern… |
Architecture, Lanterns | |
| umadashi koguchi 馬出虎口 | A main castle gate *koguchi 虎口 with a small barrier or compound… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| umadashi 馬出 | A castle entrance barrier. A small barrier or compound, built in front of a castle gate *… |
Architecture, Castles | |
| umaya 馬屋 | ✓ | A stable. Also written 厩. Also maya 馬屋 or 厩, keiya けいや, and kyūsha 厩舎. Applied to both a… |
Architecture, Aristocratic Dwellings, Folk Dwellings |
| umebachi gegyo 梅鉢懸魚 | ✓ | A gable pendant *gegyo 懸魚 with an irregular hexagonal shape. The… |
Architecture, Decorations |
| umegi 埋木 | Also read umeki. A wooden dowel or plug used to fill a hole in a piece of timber. If a knot or some other flaw… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| umemodoshi 埋戻 | To fill in any remaining open spaces with sand, gravel, soil, or other such substances, after the foundation and all… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| umi-ishi 海石 | Lit. "sea stone." A generic name for stones found in the ocean or along the seashore. Because sea stones contain salt, and… |
Architecture, Gardens | |
| umijiro 海城 | Castle on the sea. |
Architecture, Castles | |
| unbokugata tōrō 雲卜形灯籠 | A type of lantern. These six-sided lanterns are the same as the kasuga type, but they were carved by a stonemason… |
Architecture, Lanterns | |
| ungenberi 繧繝縁 | A decorated cloth binding used for the border of a straw mat *tatami 畳… |
Architecture, Decorations | |
| unkimon 雲気文 | 1 Chinese: yunqiwen. |
Architecture, Painting, Decorations, Art History | |
| unmonchiku 雲紋竹 | Also hanchiku 班竹, madaradake まだらだけ, buchidake ぶちだけ, tanbahanchiku タンバハンチク, … |
Architecture, Decorations | |
| unokedōshi 兎毛通 | Lit. "rabbit-fur cover." Also *karahafu gegyo 唐破風懸魚. … |
Architecture, Decorations | |
| ura-ita 裏板 | A generic term for backing boards, which are boards nailed over rafters to form a backing for the roofing. In an open roof… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uragaeshi-nuri 裏返塗 | Also called uragaeshi 裏返 or yobinuri 呼塗. Soft, rough plaster arakabe tsuchi 荒壁土 applied to… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uragane 裏矩 | Also called urame 裏目. |
Architecture, Tools | |
| uragaya 裏茅 | Also urappo 裏穂. A thatching material used on vernacular dwellings *minka… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| uragō 裏甲 | ✓ | Visible eaves filler placed the eave support *kayaoi 茅負, and projected slightly… |
Architecture, General Terms |
| uragome 裏込 | Also read uragomi. The process of filling the gaps in the rear of a stone retaining wall or stone fence with rubble… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| urajirodo 裏白戸 | Also called urajiro 裏白. Type of door used for storage buildings *dozō… |
Architecture, Storehouses | |
| urakabe 裏壁 | A plaster wall which has mud plaster applied to the front side and then to the rear side before the plaster on the front… |
Architecture, General Terms | |
| urakumado 有楽窓 | A type of window named for Oda Uraku 織田有楽 (1547-1621) which incorporates short, small, vertical stripes of bamboo placed… |
Architecture, Tea Houses | |
| uramon 裏門 | Back or rear gate. | Architecture, Gates |
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