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JAANUS

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  • (-) Decorations (38)
  • Architecture (38)
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Displaying 1 - 38 of 38
Title Contains Image(s) Description Keywords
chichi-no-ma 乳の間 ✓

Also called chi-no-ma 乳の間. A horizontal band of small round projections found around the upper part of a temple…

Architecture, Decorations
chichikanamono 乳金物 ✓

Also manjū kanamono 饅頭金物 (see *manjūgata 饅頭形), hoshu 鋪首,…

Architecture, Decorations
chirashihassō 散八双

A generic name for the decorative metal fittings *kazarikanagu 飾金具,…

Architecture, Decorations
chirashikanagu 散金具

A metal fitting *kanagu 金具 attached to the corners of a door and…

Architecture, Decorations
chirashimanji 散万字

A pattern which consists of swastika manji 卍 motifs inside a square grid.

Architecture, Decorations
chirashiōgi 散扇

Also chiriōgi. A decorative, geometric pattern that resembles closed fan shapes on a square grid. It is found on…

Architecture, Decorations
chōchinbishi 提灯菱

Lit. Lantern diamond. A type of diamond pattern *hishi 菱 used on mullions *…

Architecture, Decorations
chōjikuzushi 丁字崩

A decorative, geometric pattern based on the character 丁 chō that is found on transoms *…

Architecture, Decorations
chōkoku ranma 彫刻欄間 ✓

Lit. carved transom. A decorative frieze consisting of carved panels fixed above the head of a door. Transom designs include…

Architecture, Decorations
chūshin kazari 中心飾

Also tenjō chūshinkazari 天井中心飾. Lit. center flower.

1 A group of decorative patterns in…

Architecture, Decorations
sagiashi 鷺足

Also sagi-no-ashi. Lit. "heron's leg." A type of long, curved leg found on a Chinese style desk, tōzukue…

Architecture, Decorations
sakakibashira 逆木柱 ✓

Also sakabashira 逆柱 or sakasabashira 逆さ柱. Lit. "upside down pillar."
1 An upside down…

Architecture, Decorations
samidare 五月雨

Lit. "fifth month rain." A geometric pattern used for fretwork muntins. The design is inspired by early summer rain, …

Architecture, Decorations
san'yō 三葉

Lit. "three leaves." A decorative pattern carved into the shape of three leaves; used particularly for metal fittings found…

Architecture, Decorations
sannojikuzushi 三の字崩 ✓

A type of decorative pattern used for muntins on transoms *ranma 欄間. The design…

Architecture, Decorations
sasaguri 笹繰

Concave curves carved out of the upper surface of the bracket arms *hijiki…

Architecture, Decorations
sasakanamono 笹金物 ✓

Lit. "bamboo-grass metal fitting." A long, narrow, metal fitting *kanagu 金具,…

Architecture, Decorations
sayagata 紗綾形 ✓

A design pattern of interlocking swastikas, manji 万字 (卍). Most sources agree that the term (a contraction of sa…

Architecture, Decorations
seifun 正吻 ✓

Also shifun 蚩吻. A decoration in the shape of a fictional animal found at each end of a main roof-ridge *…

Architecture, Decorations
seigaiha 青海波 ✓

1 Also pronounced seikaiha. A wave design made of the arches of concentric circles superimposed…

Art History, Painting, Decorations, Architecture
senjōmon 線条文

Lit. "line pattern." A design pattern found on a slanting strut *shirin 支輪,…

Architecture, Decorations
shakudō 赤銅

Lit. "gold bronze." Ornamental metal fittings *kazari kanagu …

Architecture, Decorations
shakujōbori 錫杖彫 ✓

Also shakujōbori 釈杖彫, yuengata 油煙形. A type of decorative carving *…

Architecture, Decorations
shibi 鴟尾 ✓

Also written 鵄尾, 蚩尾, 鮪; also called tobi-no-o 鴟の尾, kutsugata 沓形 (shoes tile) because it is thought to…

Architecture, Decorations
shichiyō 七葉

Lit. "seven leaves." A decoration in the shape of seven petals, used on a gable pendant *…

Architecture, Decorations
shide 四出

A decorative motif that is characterized by a central flower pattern surrounded by either a flower or leaf pattern that is…

Architecture, Decorations
shikami 顰 ✓

An abbreviation for *shikamibori 顰彫. Formerly also written shikami 獅噛. The…

Architecture, Decorations
shikamibori 顰彫

Often abbreviated as *shikami 顰. The gouged-out or indented part of a moulding *…

Architecture, Decorations
shiken ikka 四間一花

Also ikka shiken 一花四間. A type of decorative flower pattern painted on coffered ceilings. Coffers *…

Architecture, Decorations
shiracha-iro 白茶色

Lit. "white-brown color." Also shiracha 白茶. A light brown color.

Architecture, Decorations
shiratsuchi-nuri 白土塗

To paint a surface with plaster *shikkui 漆喰, or a plastered surface.

Architecture, Decorations
shishibana 獅子鼻 ✓

A style of nosing *kibana 木鼻 carved to resemble the head and…

Architecture, Decorations
shiyō 四葉 ✓

Lit. "four leaves." Abbreviation of *shiyōza 四葉座. A decorative pattern carved…

Architecture, Decorations
shiyōza 四葉座 ✓

Also read yotsubaza. A metal nailhead cover *kugikakushi 釘隠 with…

Architecture, Decorations
shōgon 荘厳

The ornamentation of a Buddhist hall. A Buddhist statue made in a dignified and beautiful style by adding features such as a…

Architecture, Decorations
sudarezama 簾狭間

Also sudaresama. A transom *ranma 欄間, with openwork…

Architecture, Decorations
sukashi kaerumata 透蟇股 ✓

Also called *kurinuki kaerumata 刳抜蟇股. A frog-leg strut that is…

Architecture, Decorations
sutemayu 捨眉

A type of molding *kurigata 繰形 incised on the lower edge of a…

Architecture, Decorations

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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