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JAANUS

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  • Accessories (3)
  • Architecture (347)
  • Aristocratic Dwellings (4)
  • Art History (199)
  • Buildings (20)
  • Castles (25)
  • Crafts (16)
  • Decorations (16)
  • Document (10)
  • Folk Dwellings (18)
  • Gardens (31)
  • Gates (7)
  • General Terms (151)
  • Iconography (25)
  • Joints (5)
  • Lanterns (4)
  • Measurement (3)
  • Painting (106)
  • Roofing Tiles (19)
  • Sculpture (51)
  • Shrines (12)
  • Storehouses (3)
  • Structures (20)
  • Tea Houses (26)
  • Tools (8)

Displaying 101 - 200 of 543
Title Contains Image(s) Description Keywords
rōmon 楼門 ✓

A high gate that is often referred to as a two-storied gate, but in fact does not have two stories. Generally, it is an…

Architecture, Gates
ronji daruki 論治垂木

Also called koshikake daruki 腰掛垂木, ranji daruki 鸞翅垂木, or tenbō daruki 天望垂木.
A flying rafter…

Architecture, General Terms
rōsen 臘箋

A type of Chinese paper *karakami 唐紙. Decorated paper imported to Japan…

Art History, Painting
ruri 瑠璃

Lapis lazuli. Vaidurya in Sanskrit. Originally it meant lapis lazuli or emerald, but from the Six Dynasties period Chinese…

Art History, Crafts
rurigawara 瑠璃瓦

Lit. "lapis lazuli tile." A tile to which a blue glaze ruriyū 瑠璃釉 has been applied. The glaze is made from…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
Rushanabutsu 盧舎那仏

Also read "Roshanabutsu." The Rushana Buddha. Rushana is an abbreviation of Birushana 昆盧舎那 in turn a…

Art History, Iconography
ryakukama 略鎌

Lit. "abbreviated gooseneck joint." An elongated halving joint. The desired length of timber is cut in half lengthwise. The…

Architecture, Joints
Ryo Dōhin 呂洞賓

Ch: Lu Dongbin. Also called Lu Yan (Jp: Ryo Gan 呂巌) or Chunyangzi (Jp: Jun'yōshi 純陽子).
A popular Taoist hero,…

Art History, Painting
ryō-onna 霊女

A Noh mask *nōmen 能面 representing the suffering spirit of a woman…

Art History, Sculpture
ryōanjigaki 龍安寺垣 ✓

A type of bamboo fence used at Ryōanji 龍安寺, a Zen temple in Kyoto. It is characterized by thick split bamboo that cross…

Architecture, Gardens
ryōbanoko 両歯鋸 ✓

A double-edged utility saw. A widely used saw which has rip-saw teeth on one side of the blade and crosscut teeth on the…

Architecture, Tools
ryōbiraki 両開

Also *kannonbiraki tobira 観音開扉, double doors that open in one…

Architecture, General Terms
ryōbu torii 両部鳥居 ✓

Also called yotsuashi torii 四脚鳥居, gongen torii 権現鳥居 or chigobashira torii 稚児柱鳥居. A Shinto shrine…

Architecture, Shrines
Ryōkai mandara 両界曼荼羅

Lit. "mandala of the two realms," namely, the *Taizōkai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅…

Art History, Iconography
ryōkusabi 両楔

Wedges used on the right and left sides to strengthen and to secure a penetrating tie beam inserted into a pillar.

Architecture, General Terms
ryokuyūgawara 緑釉瓦

Lit. "green-glazed roof tiles." A decorative green glaze is applied to the pendants *gatō…

Architecture, Roofing Tiles
ryōmengaki 両面垣

Also ryōmegaki 両目垣. An interlocking bamboo fence. Bamboo, about 3 cm in diameter, are cut in half vertically and…

Architecture, Gardens
ryōnagare-zukuri 両流造

Also abbreviated to ryōnagare 両流. A style of main sanctuary *honden…

Architecture, Shrines
Ryōō 陵王

Also Raryōō 羅陵王, Ranryōō 蘭陵王 (King Lanling), and Ryūō 龍王 (Dragon King, see *…

Art History, Sculpture
ryōri-no-ma 料理の間

1 The part of the kitchen where the finishing stages of food preparation took place and where meals were…

Architecture, Aristocratic Dwellings, Folk Dwellings
ryōsage 両下

A type of gable roof *kirizuma-zukuri 切妻造. Also called…

Architecture, General Terms
ryōsage-zukuri 両下造

A gable roof *kirizuma-zukuri 切妻造, which has no gable…

Architecture, Shrines
ryōshi 料紙

Paper used for writing and painting; for documents, classical books, Buddhist sutras etc. Ryōshi used in Japan…

Art History, Painting
ryōshi sōshoku 料紙装飾

The decoration of paper used for calligraphy and painting *ryōshi 料紙. Paper…

Art History, Painting
ryōtei 涼亭

A summer house, arbor or pavilion that provided a cool resting place in a garden.

Architecture, Gardens
ryū 龍

Also written 竜. Ch: long. A dragon.
1 Mythological animal and cosmological symbol of Chinese…

Art History, Painting
ryūchishiki teien 竜池式庭園

Lit. "dragon pond style." A type of garden featuring a sharply curving pond reminiscent of a dragon's serpentine body. Good…

Architecture, Gardens
ryūgū-zukuri 竜宮造 ✓

Lit. "dragon palace style." An uncommon double-storied gate. The lower story has a flat arched entrance whereby the same…

Architecture, Gates
ryūko-zu 竜虎図

Ch: longhutu. Painting of a dragon *ryū 龍 and tiger …

Art History, Painting
ryūmonbaku 竜門瀑

Lit. "dragon's gate cascade." One type of cascade *baku 瀑 found in Japanese…

Architecture, Gardens
ryūsha 竜車

Lit. "dragon vehicle." The round or oval section of a pagoda finial *sōrin…

Architecture, General Terms
ryūsui kanshōshiki teien 流水観賞式庭園

Lit. "flowing water appreciation style garden."
A general term used to designate any garden focused around a stream.…

Architecture, Gardens
ryūsuimon 流水文

A design pattern which represents flowing water. One of the oldest designs in Japan, it appears as parallel 'S' lines…

Art History, Painting
ryūsuishiki chisen 流水式池泉

Lit. "flowing water style of pond and stream."
A type of water feature in a garden that includes a curving water course.…

Architecture, Gardens
ryūyōdana 柳葉棚 ✓

Lit. "willow leaf shelf."
A single decorative shelf constructed a little below the cabinets, tenbukuro 天袋,…

Architecture, General Terms
ryūzō 立像

Also read ritsuzō. A Buddhist image which is standing, as opposed to seated (see *…

Art History, Sculpture
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
tachikibutsu 立木仏

Lit. "standing tree Buddha." A Buddhist image carved on a living tree or on wood that retains the form of the original tree…

Art History, Sculpture
tachisama 立狭間

A loophole *sama 狭間 cut in a wall about chest high to a standing soldier.…

Architecture, Castles
tagane 鏨

Graver. A sharp, pointed steel tool used in metalwork and stone carving. Used for engraving, carving, and chiselling,…

Art History, Sculpture
tagasode 誰袖

Lit. "whose sleeves?" Painting theme depicting beautiful kimono 着物 draped across a wooden rack, ikō …

Art History, Painting
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
taiko 太孤

Old Persian man taikofu 太孤父 and young Persian boy taikoji 太孤児, two types of gigaku masks *…

Art History, Sculpture
taikobari fusuma 太鼓張襖 ✓

Also called taikobari 太鼓張, fukuroshōji 袋障子, bōzufusuma 坊主襖.
A type of paper-covered,…

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
Taikōbō 太公望

Ch: Taigongwang. A Chinese scholar who was thought to be a paragon of humble virtue and learned accomplishment, and who…

Art History, Painting
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
Taima mandara 当麻曼荼羅

Mandala of Taima. The most complete depiction of the *Kangyō hensō…

Art History, Iconography
tainaibutsu 胎内仏

A small Buddhist image that is placed inside a larger one as an offering. In most cases, older images were placed inside…

Art History, Sculpture
taisha 代赭

Red ochre. A red pigment whose main component is ferric oxide (haematite), Fe203. Used in Japanese style painting *…

Art History, Painting
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
Taishakuten 帝釈天

A major Hindu god called Indra or Sakra who has two major roles in Buddhist literature, one as king of the gods and lord of…

Art History, Iconography
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
taishoku 褪色

Fading. A lessening of the intensity of a color by exposure to sunlight or air. Chemically unstable dyes or pigments undergo…

Art History, Painting
taishōtoku 退走禿

"Running in retreat," a *bugaku 舞楽 dance and mask *…

Art History, Sculpture
taisō byōbu 太宗屏風

A type of folding screen *byōbu 屏風 used in the Imperial Palace…

Art History, Painting
Taizō kyūzuyō 胎蔵旧図様

A collection of iconographical line drawings *hakubyō 白描 in handscroll form…

Art History, Iconography
Taizō zuzō 胎蔵図像

A collection of iconographical line drawings *hakubyō 白描 in handscroll form…

Art History, Iconography
Taizōkai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅

A *mandara 曼荼羅 based on the Dainichikyō 大日経 (Sk: …

Art History, Iconography
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
takagari 鷹狩

A pictorial subject depicting the sport of falconry, birds trained to hunt cranes tsuru 鶴, pheasants kiji…

Art History, Painting
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
takakubashira 多角柱

A pillar or post that is multi-sided or cut with many facets.

Architecture, General Terms
takama bussho 高間仏所

Also takaya bussho 高矢仏所. A guild of Buddhist sculptors active in Nara *…

Art History, Sculpture
takarabune 宝船 ✓

A sailboat hokakebune 帆掛船 at full sail, loaded with rice bushels and treasures takara 宝, often bearing the…

Art History, Iconography
Takasago 高砂

Now a modern city on the Inland Sea (southwest of Osaka in Hyōgo Prefecture), most famous as the sea-coast setting for the…

Art History, Painting
takatoriyaki 高取焼 ✓

Takatori 高取 ware. Made in Chikuzen 筑前 Province (modern Fukuoka Prefecture) of northern Kyūshū 九州, the Takatori kilns were…

Art History, Crafts
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."

1 A fence that has split and crushed bamboo…

Architecture, Gardens
takebashira 竹柱

Lit. "bamboo post." One that has been squared off.

Architecture, General Terms
takegaki 竹垣 ✓

Lit. "bamboo fence." A generic name for any kind of fence made with bamboo. Specific types include *…

Architecture, Gardens
Takekawa 竹河 ✓

A pictorial subject taken from "Takekawa" ("Bamboo River"), Chapter 44 of Genji monogatari 源氏物語 (The Tale of…

Art History, Painting, Document
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
takenaga bōsho 丈長奉書

A long-sheet size of *hōsho 奉書 paper. Approximately 53 x 72 cm. The largest…

Art History, Painting
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-e 凧絵

Pictures on kites. It is thought that kite flying became popular in Japan in the 18th century, and the early designs for…

Art History, Painting
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
Takuma-ha 宅磨派

Also written 託磨派 and 宅間派. One of the schools of *ebusshi 絵仏師, priest-painters…

Art History, Painting
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."

1 The tip on the rear, narrow end of a half-round roof tile *…

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
Tamakazura 玉鬘 ✓

A pictorial subject taken from "Tamakazura" ("The Jeweled Chaplet"), Chapter 22 of Genji monogatari 源氏物語 (The…

Art History, Painting, Document
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 kōhi 多面広臂

An image that has more heads, eyes, or limbs than the human figure.

Art History, Sculpture

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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