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JAANUS

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  • (-) Decorations (190)
  • Architecture (190)
  • Art History (7)
  • General Terms (1)
  • Painting (4)
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  • Sculpture (3)

Displaying 101 - 190 of 190
Title Contains Image(s) Description Keywords
magatama 曲玉

1 Also written 勾玉. A bead with religious significance, introduced to Japan from the Korean peninsula. It is…

Architecture, Decorations
makikanagu 巻金具

U-strap. A コ-shaped metal fitting used to secure wooden joints.

Architecture, Decorations
manjitsunagi 万字繋 ✓

Also written 満字繋, 卍つなぎ. A pattern *mon'yō 文様, or mullion *…

Architecture, Decorations
matsubakuzushi 松葉崩

A geometric pattern based on stylized pine needles, matsuba 松葉, that is used for muntins *…

Architecture, Decorations
matsubatsunagi 松葉繋

Lit. "connected pine needles." A geometrical pattern used for muntins *kumiko…

Architecture, Decorations
matsuedaberi 松江田縁

Also matsuidaberi 松井田縁. A navy-blue linen binding used to make the edge of a straw mat *…

Architecture, Decorations
mayu 眉

1 A carved molding *kurigata 繰形, found on the lower edges of…

Architecture, Decorations
mayukaki 眉欠き

Also mayujakuri 眉決, mabigaki まびがき. The process of carving *mayu 眉, moldings…

Architecture, Decorations
mitsubana gegyo 三花懸魚 ✓

Lit. "three-flowered bargeboard pendant." A decorative gable pendant *gegyo…

Architecture, Decorations
mitsubana kudarigegyo hiretsuki 三花降懸魚鰭付

A decorative gable pendant *gegyo 懸魚 covering the ends of purlins in a gable…

Architecture, Decorations
mokkōgata ranma 木瓜形欄間

A transom *ranma 欄間, with openwork *…

Architecture, Decorations
munekazari 棟飾り

A generic name for the ornaments added to the ridge of a thatched or wooden roof to protect the roof-ridge, and to symbolize…

Architecture, Decorations
nagakikkō 長亀甲

An elongated hexagon or a decorative pattern consisting of a series of elongated hexagon shapes.

Architecture, Decorations
nagimayu 薙眉

Also called naginata mayu 薙刀眉 or 長刀眉. A type of carved molding *kurigata…

Architecture, Decorations
namakogata 海鼠形

A decorative shape said to resemble a sea slug, namako 海鼠. The shape is often used for the material handles of…

Architecture, Decorations
nekoashi 猫足

Lit. "cat's leg." A type of short, curved leg found on low desks or tables. The base of the leg curls inward. Variations are…

Architecture, Decorations
nemaki-kanamono 根巻金物 ✓

A gold-plated metal decoration *kazarikanagu 飾金具 carved with…

Architecture, Decorations
nigirihasu 握蓮

Also *kayōzuka 荷葉束 and rengezuka 蓮華束. Decorative carved…

Architecture, Decorations
nindō 忍冬

1 Also pronounced suikazura. Honeysuckle.
2 Abbreviation of *…

Architecture, Decorations
ninojikuzushi 二の字崩 ✓

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

Architecture, Decorations
nurigamachi 塗框

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

Architecture, Decorations
oigata mon'yō 笈形文様

A pattern drawn on a wall on both sides of a type of post called *kentozuka…

Architecture, Decorations
okkake manji 追掛万字 ✓

A pattern *mon'yō 文様, or mullion *kumiko…

Architecture, Decorations
okurimanji 送り万字

A type of design pattern *mon'yō 文様 or mullion *…

Architecture, Decorations
omogegyo 本懸魚

Lit. "main gable pendant." Also written 主懸魚, ogamigegyo 拝懸魚. A decorative gable pendant *…

Architecture, Decorations
otafukubishi 御多福菱

A decorative diamond pattern created by a series of indented curved lines. Occasionally the pattern is used for mullions *…

Architecture, Decorations
raimon 雷文

Lit. "lightning pattern." Also read ikazuchimon いかずち文. A pattern of thick and thin zig-zag lines. A variation of *…

Architecture, Decorations
rokuyō 六葉 ✓

Lit. "six leaves." A decoration pattern carved into the shape of six petals, and used on a gable pendant *…

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
taiheibire 大瓶鰭

Also oigata 笈形, *gasshōhire 合掌鰭. A pair of decorative sculpted…

Architecture, Decorations
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
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
taru-no-kuchi 樽の口

1 An abbreviation of taru-no-kuchi kanamono 樽の口金物. Part of the metal cover *…

Architecture, Decorations
tarukisaki kanamono 垂木先金物

A decorative metal fitting *kazari kanagu 飾金具 fixed to the end of a…

Architecture, Decorations
tasuki 襷 ✓

1 Two interact lines, strings or rails diagonally forming a pattern of diamond shapes. Sometimes another…

Architecture, Decorations
tasukigōshi 襷格子

Also *hishigōshi 菱格子. A type of lattice *…

Architecture, Decorations
tatebishi 竪菱

Also written 立菱. A longitudinal diamond pattern which consists a series of repeated upright diamond shapes. See …

Architecture, Decorations
tengai 天蓋

1 Also sangai 傘蓋, hōgai 宝蓋, kagai 華蓋, kengai 懸蓋. Sk: chatra…

Architecture, Decorations, Art History, Sculpture
tonbo kanagu 蜻蛉金具

Lit. "dragonfly metal fitting." A type of decorative metal fitting *kazari kanagu…

Architecture, Decorations
toshoku 塗色 ✓

The colors of paint found on Japanese style *wayō 和様 temples.…

Architecture, Decorations
tsukemen kurigata 付け面繰形

Lit. "attached surface molding." An incised or molded decoration *kurigata 繰形…

Architecture, Decorations
tsuki-no-ji kuzushi 月の字崩

A geometrical pattern based on the character 月, tsuki (moon), and found on transoms *…

Architecture, Decorations
tsukuridashi kurigata 作り出し繰形

An incised or molded decoration *kurigata 繰形 applied to an…

Architecture, Decorations
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
umebachi gegyo 梅鉢懸魚 ✓

A gable pendant *gegyo 懸魚 with an irregular hexagonal shape. The…

Architecture, Decorations
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.
An ancient Chinese decorative design formed from C and S shapes. It is…

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
uzumaki 渦巻

Also uzumakimon 渦巻文, uzugata 渦形, volute, scroll. A decorative spiral pattern found throughout the world on…

Architecture, Decorations
uzuwakaba 渦若葉

Lit. "curly young leaf."
A decorative pattern resembling leaves with curved tips. It has been used on ornamental roof…

Architecture, Decorations
wakaba 若葉 ✓

1 An abstract decorative pattern of extended curved lines based on the form of a leaf. The pattern is…

Architecture, Decorations
wakigegyo 脇懸魚

Lit. "side gable pendant." Also *kudarigegyo 降懸魚, *…

Architecture, Decorations
warabite 蕨手 ✓

Also warabide. A style of ornamentation which features a curved design based on curling bracken shoots. It is found…

Architecture, Decorations
watabana 綿花

Also written 綿鼻. A molding *kurigata 繰形 in the shape of a silk-…

Architecture, Decorations
yatsushi torikabuto 省鳥兜

A type of decorated beam *kibana 木鼻 which is a simplified version of Japanese…

Architecture, Decorations
yōraku 瓔珞

1 A string of beads or lacework used to decorate Buddhist statues and objects. Often found on Bodhisattva…

Art History, Sculpture, Architecture, Decorations
yu-engata 油煙形 ✓

Also kōmorigata 蝙蝠形. A decorative pattern similar to the shapes found on a foliate-panel, shape *…

Architecture, Decorations
yuiwata gegyo 結綿懸魚 ✓

A type of gable pendant *gegyo 懸魚, decorated with a sculpture resembling a floss…

Architecture, Decorations
yuiwata 結綿 ✓

1 Also *watabana 綿花, *…

Architecture, Decorations
yuiwatagashira 結綿頭

Also gyakurengashira 逆蓮頭. A type of carved decoration found on the tops of newel posts *…

Architecture, Decorations
yumimayu 弓眉 ✓

A type of carved molding found on the lower edges of rainbow beams *kōryō …

Architecture, Decorations
zōbana 象鼻 ✓

Also read zōhana. A beam projection or nosing *kibana 木鼻, molded or…

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