A raised platform used during the production of large-scale paintings. Most such paintings are placed on the floor while…

Lit. "step-over stone." One of the trump stones *yaku-ishi 役石 set…

Also pronounced hōkadai. Also noroshidai 狼煙台 or noroshiba 狼煙場. A fire beacon; a stone platform on…

Lit. "cool dwelling." Formerly the name used for the priests' quarters at Jingoji 神護寺 (Momoyama period) in Kyoto. Now more…

A miniature pagoda in a bowl or rotund bottle shape. The pagoda is made of gilt bronze *…

Printed squares of wrapping paper, noshi 熨斗 which are tied with two-colored cords, mizuhiki 水引 used for…

An archaic term for *taru-no-kuchi 樽の口. Also called …

Also noshizumigawara 熨斗積瓦. The ancient name was *tsutsumigawara…

*Noh 能 costumes. Also called nō-ishō 能衣装. Cloth articles worn in Noh…

A pictorial subject based on "Nowaki" ("The Typhoon"), Chapter 28 of Genji monogatari 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji…

A hidden roof. The roof structure built above an exposed roof. It has its own support system and hidden rafters that are set…

Also called hizumi 歪 meaning incline or slant. A slight twist inward at the top of a bargeboard or a tilting…

Lit. "peeping bridge." A type of arched, wooden garden bridge that ends abruptly in the water just after beginning its…

Lit. "peeping fence." A type of *sodegaki 袖垣 with one or more…

1　An unfinished, unplanned board with a rough surface. See *no-ita …

1　Also called *ishigaki 石垣; ishigaketsumi 石崖積; …

Lit. "subjugation of the Fabulous Night Monster." A pictorial subject taken from a famous episode in Heike monogatari…

Lit. "sewing nail."
1　A nail that connects the two parts of a scarf joint *…

A knot hole. A flaw on a timber surface caused by a knot that has fallen out.

1　A penetrating tie beam that extends from one pillar to another inside a temple or shrine building. It has…

Also written 貫孔. The generic term for the opening made in a pillar, strut or any other member into which a penetrating tie…

Also called ajirogaki 網代垣 or ajiro takegaki 網代竹垣. A type of wickerwork fence, especially popular in…

An ornamental type of *myōjin torii 明神鳥居, or gate-like entrance a Shinto…

1　Also called *nunokiso 布基礎. One meter long rectangular base…

Lit. "cloth-pulling waterfalls." A series of waterfalls at the head of the Ikuta 生田 River in Hyōgo Prefecture. In ancient…

Lit. "fabric paving." Pavement formed by square or rectangular stones laid so that a little space is allowed around each.…

Also called renzoku kiso 連続基礎. A type of direct footing that runs diagonally across corners and attaches to the…

A generic term for the textured impression found on the underside of a roof tile. The impression is left by the cloth placed…

The traces left by the pressure of a cloth on a clay surface. The character 痕 ato or kon means a mark left…

The woodblock print *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 technique of blind or gauffrage…

Lit. "cloth construction." Ashlar construction. Also termed nunozumi 布積 (cloth piling). A technique used in dry…

Lit. "wet veranda." Also called *ochi-en 落縁, kirime-en 切目縁. A…

Lit. "wet-heron type." A lantern with six uniform sides and a long, thick bell-shaped canopy without…

Also pronounced nurikamachi. The lacquered rails or finishing strips used for the framework of sliding screens *…

1　A sleeping space used by the master and mistress of the house, enclosed with solid plaster walls, usually…

A generic term for the process used to build a fire-resistent wall. Typically the wooden structural frame is entirely…

Windows made with plaster-covered lattice, commonly used in merchants' houses *machiya…

Also written 塗回床. An alcove *tokonoma 床の間, with three sides and the wall…

Also nuriatsu 塗厚. Depth of plastering. The ratio between the thickness from the first rough coat applied to the…

A ceiling of the *sunoko 簀子 type made from bamboo stalks lashed…

Also written 塗り屋, 塗家.

1　A fireproof building in which all the timber surfaces of the structural…

An alternative term for *ōkabe-zukuri 大壁造. The fireproofing…

Lit. "wife's seat." Also frequently called kakaza 嬶座. One of the seats around the edge of the sunken hearth *…

Also nōsashō hōju 能作性宝珠, mani hōju 摩尼宝珠. A sacred jewel, said to remove suffering, and capable of granting…

An implement carried by Buddhist priests at a ceremony or during formal preaching. It has a slightly curved handle about 30-…

Sk: Cintamanicakra. A form of *Kannon 観音, most often six armed and…

Lit. "the thus-come one." Sk: tathagata. One who has realized true enlightenment. In order to reach this state of…