A lath or slat is a thin, narrow strip of straight- grained wood used under roof shingles or tiles, on lath and plaster walls and ceilings to hold plaster, and in lattice and trellis work.
124-582: A shoji ( 障 （ しょう ） 子 （ じ ） , Japanese pronunciation: [ɕo:(d)ʑi] ) is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture , consisting of translucent (or transparent) sheets on a lattice frame. Where light transmission is not needed, the similar but opaque fusuma is used ( oshiire /closet doors, for instance). Shoji usually slide, but may occasionally be hung or hinged, especially in more rustic styles. Shoji are very lightweight, so they are easily slid aside, or taken off their tracks and stored in
248-421: A hikite . While washi paper blocks wind, it does allow air to diffuse through, allowing air circulation. This is particularly important in traditional buildings, in which charcoal is burned, and damp evaporates from the ground in the crawlspace under the raised wooden floor. Ranma (transom/fanlight panels above the sliding panels and kamoi ) may have openings to further encourage breezes to pass through
372-408: A sash windows . When closed, these then look much like standard shoji (see images). Peel-and-stick films that give glass some of the appearance of washi are also sold. Sukimi shoji ( 月見障子 , moon-watching shoji) are similar; they have upper panels that give a view, while the lower ones are translucent. Shoji doors are often designed to slide open, (and thus conserve space that would be required by
496-526: A bathroom; even laminated paper will be affected, as water bleeds in from the edges. Traditionally, abura-shōji ( 油障子 : "oil-shoji"), also called ama-shōji ( 雨障子 : "rain-shoji"), used paper (generally nishi-no-uchigami , 西の内紙 ) that was glued on with vinegar-based paste and then oiled. This made them water-resistant, so they were used where rain might reach under the eaves. Oiled-paper windows were common in Europe, as European-style shallow eaves exposed
620-486: A central tower or tenshu ( 天守 , lit. heaven defense) surrounded by gardens and fortified buildings. All of this was set within massive stone walls and surrounded by deep moats. The dark interiors of castles were often decorated by artists, the spaces were separated up using sliding fusuma panels and byōbu folding screens. The Shoin-zukuri style in the Muromachi period continued to be refined. Verandas linked
744-485: A closet, opening the room to other rooms or the outside. Fully traditional buildings may have only one large room, under a roof supported by a post-and-lintel frame, with few or no permanent interior or exterior walls; the space is flexibly subdivided as needed by the removable sliding wall panels. The posts are generally placed one tatami -length (about 2 m or 6 ft) apart, and the shoji slide in two parallel wood-groove tracks between them. In modern construction,
868-494: A counter-lath is placed perpendicular to the lath as a fillet (a thin, narrow strip of material) to space the lath off of the surface to allow the plaster to pass through the lath and create a key. Metal lath dates from the late 19th century and is used extensively today with plaster and stucco in home and commercial construction. In addition to providing a matrix to which the stucco can adhere, metal lath adds strength and rigidity. . Metal lath can be stapled directly to studs, and
992-551: A culture called Kokufu bunka (lit., Japanese culture) which was suited to the Japanese climate and aesthetic sense flourished. The shinden-zukuri style, which was the architectural style of the residences of nobles in this period, showed the distinct uniqueness of Japanese architecture and permanently determined the characteristics of later Japanese architecture. Its features are an open structure with few walls that can be opened and closed with doors and shitomi and sudare ,
1116-496: A distinctive keyhole shape, i.e. that of a circle interconnected with a triangle. Access was via a vertical shaft that was sealed off once the burial was completed. There was room inside the chamber for a coffin and grave goods. The mounds were often decorated with terracotta figures called haniwa . Later in the period mounds began to be located on flat ground and their scale greatly increased. Among many examples in Nara and Osaka ,
1240-399: A larger full-width section of glass, at seated-eye level, affording a view of the outside in cold weather. Glass can be used in large sheets or in small panes (the kumiko becoming muntins ). Yukimi shoji also contain non-transparent translucent sections, for privacy. In suriage shoji, there is a vertically-sliding translucent section; the translucent sections are divided horizontally like
1364-422: A non-right-angle, or three cross at the same point ( mitsu-kude ), the angles can become complicated, and specialized tools are used to cut them rapidly. Small kumiko may simply be friction-fitted and glued. While frames can be produced with minimal hand tools, specialized hand tools, power tools, and jigs for cutting identical lengths and angles speed the process. These tools are often homemade; as shoji-making
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#17327918938891488-510: A number of secondary halls: the Hokke-dō (Lotus Sutra Hall), and the storehouse , called the Shōsō-in , and the adjoining Kōfuku-ji . This last structure is of great importance as an art-historical cache, because in it are stored the utensils that were used in the temple's dedication ceremony in 752, as well as government documents and many secular objects owned by the imperial family. Although
1612-424: A plaster and lath wall may fail. First, the lath itself can sometimes pull away from the frame on which it is mounted. This is generally due to the use of non-galvanized nails. The lath can also fail because of decay from moisture or insect damage. Moisture can also cause wooden lath to expand and contract, causing the plaster around it to crack. Additionally, failure can also occur in the plaster keys. Over time,
1736-718: A priority, with buildings grouped under a single roof rather than around a garden. The gardens of the Heian period houses often became training grounds. After the fall of the Kamakura shogunate in 1333, the Ashikaga shogunate was formed, having later its seat in the Kyoto district of Muromachi. The proximity of the shogunate to the imperial court led to a rivalry in the upper levels of society which caused tendencies toward luxurious goods and lifestyles. Aristocratic houses were adapted from
1860-414: A shoji is called a koshizuke shoji. If the panel is over 60 cm high, or around a third of the height of the whole shoji, the shoji may be called a koshi-daka-shōji ( 腰高障子 ; literally, high- koshi shoji). These are somewhat archaic, as they were designed to protect against rain. Now that shoji are rarely exposed to rain (due to being behind glass), the form in common use has a much lower panel, and
1984-416: A shop. Wooden-slat laths are still used today in building construction to form a base or groundwork for plaster , but modern lath and plaster applications are mostly limited to conservation projects. Tiles , slates , and other coverings on roofs and walls are often fastened to laths, sometimes also called battens or slats. Such strips of wood are also employed to form lattice-work, or are used as
2108-626: A single groove. They slide on rails mounted on a solid wall, and when open partly or fully overlap the wall. They are used for smaller windows in opaque walls; this is common in chashitsu (see image). Small windows and katabiki mounting were used in minka until the mid-Edo period, but were then replaced by larger openings with sliding panels. Full-height shoji set up so that they can be slid in front of an opaque wall are not common in modern Japan. Washi-on-frame panels can also be used to diffuse an artificial light source; in Japanese lampshades , this use
2232-535: A sort of hook. Wooden and metal lath depend on the mechanical bond created by keys to adhere the plaster to the lath. Lath can be attached directly to the frame of a building, such as the studs of a timber structure. Alternatively, lath can be attached to a timber or metal frame called a furring , which is then attached to the building structure. Furrings are often used in masonry construction. Frames are also used when using lath and plaster to create decorative, curved, or ornamental work. There are several reasons that
2356-417: A structure in which shoes are taken off to enter the house on stilts, sitting or sleeping directly on tatami mats without using chairs and beds, a roof made of laminated hinoki (Japanese cypress) bark instead of ceramic tiles, and a natural texture that is not painted on pillars. A Buddhist architectural style called Wayō , which developed in accordance with the Japanese climate and aesthetic sense,
2480-547: A style that was a precursor to the later aristocratic-style of building known as shinden-zukuri . The style was characterised by symmetrical buildings placed as arms that defined an inner garden. This garden then used borrowed scenery to seemingly blend with the wider landscape. A gradual increase in the size of buildings led to standard units of measurement as well as refinements in layout and garden design. In 894, Japan abolished kentōshi (Japanese missions to Tang China) and began to distance itself from Chinese culture, and
2604-469: A swinging door); they may also be hung or fixed. Most commonly, a shoji panel slides in a grooved wooden track. The upper groove is substantially deeper than the lower groove. The lower groove is cut in the shikii , or threshold beam ("the shikii is high" means "it is difficult to visit the place", or expresses self-consciousness). The upper groove is cut in the kamoi , a lintel between adjacent posts. The traditional wooden track requires precise fitting, and
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#17327918938892728-435: A symbolism, associated with the natural pattern it stylistically represents. Patterns may also be combined. While these are traditionally used for shoji, they are increasingly used for other woodwork items, in and outside Japan. Patterns can be classified according to jigumi , the foundational grid; this may be square, diamond-shaped, or hexagonal. Rectangular shoji may skew, in which case bent springs of bamboo are inserted into
2852-426: A type of cypress called hinoki were used for roofs. It was sometime during this period that the hidden roof , a uniquely Japanese solution to roof drainage problems, was adopted. The increasing size of buildings in the capital led to an architecture reliant on columns regularly spaced in accordance with the ken , a traditional measure of both size and proportion. The imperial palace Shishinden demonstrated
2976-437: A variant of lætt . This in turn would seem to stem from a Proto-Germanic word * laþþo , from which have sprung words in many Germanic languages , e.g. Dutch lat , German Latte . The root has also found its way into Romance languages , cf. Italian latta , French latte . The related German word Laden ( Middle High German : lade ) denotes a board, plank, sash, shutter , counter and hence also
3100-785: Is a historical practice, but it is no longer common in Japan, though it is sometimes used in western-style homes. Shoji in Europe are commonly suspended on panel-blind track, by 'touch-and-close' fastener such as Velcro . No bottom channel is required or used – panels are typically 16–17 mm thick made from Obeche timber rather than traditional conifer wood. This method has the advantage of being less likely to break but can move in strong draughts. Other suspension methods are sometimes used. Kake-shōji (hanging shoji) are mostly used in traditionally rustic chashitsu (tea rooms). They are commonly hung over small windows in opaque walls of mud plaster; they hang from bent-nail hooks, one on either side of
3224-406: Is a wooden box made of thick boards joined in the corners in a log cabin style and supported on eight pillars. The roof is thatched but, unlike the typically hipped roof of the pit dwellings, it is a simple V-shaped gable . Some authors credit the raised structure designs of this period to contact with the rice-cultivating Austronesian peoples from coastal eastern China or Taiwan, rather than
3348-408: Is also used. Nonwoven sheets of composite plastic (vinyl-coated polyester ) fibers are also used, and may be attached with removable fasteners rather than glue, although they are still single-use. Nekoma shoji ( 猫間障子 , also called mago shoji, 孫障子 ) have a horizontally-sliding translucent sub-panel (or two, for Osaka nekoma shoji), which can be opened from inside to give a view outwards. Until
3472-518: Is both common and traditional in Japan. Less traditionally, hiki ( 引 ) shoji (sliding panels) can be hung on rollers, which run on metal rails mounted on the side of the kamoi . This avoids fit problems caused by humidity-related changes in the dimensions of wood . Such rail-mount shoji require an anti-sway pin, but may otherwise have a smooth, unobstructed threshold. Such shoji are also fairly easy to remove. Shoji may also be installed as pocket doors between rooms, called hikikomi ( 引込 ) shoji. This
3596-561: Is called koshi-tsuki-shōji ( 腰付障子 ). Manaka koshishōji ( 間中腰障子 ) have a central koshi . The wood panels were often quite elaborately ornamented, from the late 1500s onwards. The outside of the koshi may covered with wickerwork, or the inside papered. Pictures on paper were sometimes pasted onto the koshi board ( haritsuke-e , 貼付絵 ); pasted-on pictures are characteristic of the Shoin style . The koshi boards may be fastened to straight vertical or horizontal rails, which stand proud of
3720-432: Is called "hook" lath, which has small hooks attached that allows workers to hook the stems of tobacco plants onto the lath, often between two lengths of twine attached to the lath and twisted mechanically. A lathhouse is an open structure roofed with laths in order to grow plants which need shelter from the sun. Laths were also used to fix reeds to a timber structure before plastering. In Cape Cod , laths were used in
3844-424: Is capable of bending to easily form corners and curves. Three coats of plaster are required when using metal lath. Several types of metal lath have been developed for a variety of applications: Gypsum lath (rock lath) consists of gypsum plaster sandwiched between two sheets of absorbent paper. The finish side (to which plaster is trawled) is treated with gypsum crystals for the plaster to chemically bond to and
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3968-485: Is commonly asserted outside of Japan, possibly simply because "rice paper" sounds oriental. Cloth, usually a fine silk, has traditionally been used, but usage declined with improvements in the quality of washi (a specialized paper which diffuses light particularly well, and excludes wind). Washi is traditionally made from kōzo (mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera ), mitsumata ( Edgeworthia papyrifera ) or gampi ( Wikstroemia canescens ), or hemp fibers and it
4092-470: Is critical to allow the panels to move easily, and the woodworking of the sliding mechanism developed over time (modern shoji can be moved with one finger). Formerly, the grooves were made by dobumizo ( どぶ溝 ), nailing strips of wood to the kamoi (lintel) and shikii (sill) beams. The grooves were later cut into the beams, using a specialized saw to cut the sides, a chisel to remove the waste, and specialized groove planes to smooth. A shakuri kanna ( plow plane )
4216-468: Is generally more economical than replacing it. Often, the plaster needs the repairs, and not the lath itself. As long as the lath and the first coats (brown coat) of plaster do not have any significant damage, minor cracks can simply be patched. For larger cracks, and when the brown coat is damaged, several base coats need to be applied prior to the patch coat. Metal lath can also be added to wooden lath prior to coating to add strength and increase keying. If
4340-426: Is highly competitive, these give kumiko craftspeople a critical competitive advantage. While frames are handcrafted, there is also industrial mass-production. Some simple kumiko types include: The lowest portions of the shoji, which are the most likely to get wet or kicked, might be filled with a solid wood-panel dado , called a koshi ( 腰 ; literally, waist or hip; not to be confused with kōshi , above). Such
4464-403: Is inhospitable to toxic molds. Metal lath and plaster walls can be twice as resistant to fire as drywall , and are capable of achieving a two-hour fire rating with a 2-inch-thick (5.1 cm) assembly. Two inches of plaster and lath can also achieve the same decibel rating as 4 + 7 ⁄ 8 inches (12 cm) of drywall. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
4588-521: Is now obsolete, shoji was originally used for a variety of sight-obstructing panels, screens, or curtains, many portable, either free-standing or hung from lintels, used to divide the interior space of buildings (see List of partitions of traditional Japanese architecture ). While shoji now exclusively means a translucent framework screen, and "fusuma" an opaque one, historic terminology is less clear-cut. Cloth-covered frame panels that fit between pillars (but did not yet slide in grooves) were invented in
4712-412: Is sold in a broad range of types. Washi was formerly made in narrower strips, which were overlapped by a few millimeters as they were glued on; it now comes in wider widths, and in rolls or lengths the height of a short Japanese door. Bright white paper is most popular in Japan; off-whites are also available, but darker colours are avoided, as they would not transmit light. Washi began to be mass-produced in
4836-404: Is sometimes perforated to allow mechanical bonding. It is commonly used in place of wood lath since it is noncombustible, easy to use, and can give better results. Gypsum board can be purchased in sheets of various sizes and screwed or nailed directly onto a building's studs. Due to its rigidity, it is most suited for use on straight walls. Gypsum board was improved in 1910 by the paper wrapping
4960-418: Is stronger than later forms of lath production. Accordion laths are thin, sawn boards that are partially split with a hatchet or axe. The splits are then spread apart to form gaps for the plaster to key into. The name derived from the spreading action, which is like pulling an accordion open. After the circular saw came into use in the early 19th century, lath for plastering was sawn in sawmills and delivered to
5084-408: Is the choice of materials, always wood in various forms (planks, straw, tree bark, paper, etc.) for almost all structures. Unlike both Western and some Chinese architecture , the use of stone is avoided except for certain specific uses, for example temple podia and pagoda foundations. The general structure is almost always the same: posts and lintels support a large and gently curved roof, while
Shoji - Misplaced Pages Continue
5208-475: Is usually done towards the end of June, before the rainy season ends and the Gion Festival begins. Shoji are most commonly filled with a single sheet of paper, pasted across the back of the frame (on the outer side). Shoji may also be papered on both sides, which increases thermal insulation and sound absorption; the frame is still visible in silhouette. Shoji are not made with rice paper , though this
5332-648: The shoin-zukuri style, which developed in the Kamakura Period (1123–1333), as loss of income forced aristocrats into more modest and restrained architecture. This style was simplified in teahouse -influenced sukiya-zukuri architecture, and spread to the homes of commoners in the Edo Period (1603–1868), since which shoji have been largely unchanged. Shoji are used in both traditional-style Japanese houses and in Western-style housing, especially in
5456-407: The washitsu (traditional Japanese-style room). The traditional wood-and-paper construction is highly flammable. The shoji frame is a panel called a kōshi ( 格 （ こう ） 子 （ し ） , literally "lattice") . It is assembled from interlocking laths of wood or bamboo called kumiko . " Kumiko " literally means "woven"; the halved joints alternate in direction so that
5580-628: The Edo period (1683–1807) it was applied to ryōtei (Japanese-style restaurants) and chashitsu , and later it was also applied to residences. During the Meiji Restoration of 1868 the history of Japanese architecture was radically changed by two important events. The first was the Kami and Buddhas Separation Act of 1868, which formally separated Buddhism from Shinto and Buddhist temples from Shinto shrines , breaking an association between
5704-625: The International Style of modernism into Japan. However, it was not until after the Second World War that Japanese architects made an impression on the international scene, firstly with the work of architects like Kenzo Tange and then with theoretical movements, like Metabolism . In traditional Japanese architecture, there are various styles, features and techniques unique to Japan in each period and use, such as residence, castle , Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine . On
5828-509: The Taira clan in 1180. Many of these temples and shrines were later rebuilt by the Kamakura shogunate to consolidate the shōgun ' s authority. Although less elaborate than during the Heian period, architecture in the Kamakura period was informed by a simplicity due to its association with the military order. New residences used a buke-zukuri style that was associated with buildings surrounded by narrow moats or stockades. Defense became
5952-515: The kumiko is water-soluble ( wheatpaste is also sometimes used and double-sided tape may also be used, especially for laminated paper). Laminated papers, coated in vinyl , last longer and are sufficiently waterproof to be wiped clean, but the thicker the plastic film, the harder it is to install. After glue is dry (~6 hours), non-laminated paper can be sprayed with water to tauten it (removing small wrinkles), but laminated paper cannot. Shoji paper cannot be used in places where it will get wet, like
6076-575: The samurai class gained power in the Kamakura period (1185–1333), the shinden-zukuri style changed, and in the Muromachi period (1333–1573), the shoin-zukuri style appeared. This style had a lasting influence on later Japanese architectural styles and became the basis of modern Japanese houses. Its characteristics were that sliding doors called fusuma and paper windows called shōji were fully adopted, and tatami mats were laid all over
6200-497: The 1800s, making it much more affordable. Synthetic fibers were first used in washi paper in the 1960s (mid Shōwa period ). A small proportion of synthetic fibers may be used to increase tear strength. The optical characteristics of washi, such as its reflectance and scatter , are selected by the maker. Paper is decoratively patched if torn, and, traditionally, replaced once a year in late December (sometimes less frequently, such as every two years). The rice glue used to hold it to
6324-493: The 600s. They were used to screen bedrooms (like the curtains on a canopy bed ), and called fusuma shoji (there were also bedclothes called "fusuma"). When paper came to be used instead of cloth, fusuma shoji were also called karakami shoji. From the late 1100s to the early 1200s, translucent cloth and paper shoji were called akari-shōji ( 明障子 ), "illuminating shoji". It is not clear when translucent shoji were first used. The symmetrical round-pillared shinden style developed in
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#17327918938896448-739: The Commercial Museum, thought to have been the city's first brick building. In Tokyo, after the Tsukiji area burnt to the ground in 1872, the government designated the Ginza area as model of modernization. The government planned the construction of fireproof brick buildings, and larger, better streets connecting the Shimbashi Station and the foreign concession in Tsukiji, as well as to important government buildings. Designs for
6572-516: The Han. The Kofun period marked the appearance of many-chambered burial mounds or tumuli ( kofun literally means "old mounds"). Similar mounds in Korean Peninsula are thought to have been influenced by Japan. Early in the period, the tombs, known as "keyhole kofun " or zenpō-kōen-fun ( 前方後円墳 ) , often made use of the existing topography, shaping it and adding man-made moats to form
6696-441: The Heian period they began to be refined during the Edo period . Machiya typically occupied deep, narrow plots abutting the street (the width of the plot was usually indicative of the wealth of the owner), often with a workshop or shop on the ground floor. Tiles rather than thatch were used on the roof and exposed timbers were often plastered in an effort to protect the building against fire. Ostentatious buildings that demonstrated
6820-609: The White Heron castle) are excellent examples of the castles of the period, while Nijō Castle in Kyōto is an example of castle architecture blended with that of an imperial palace, to produce a style that is more in keeping with the Chinese influence of previous centuries. The Tokugawa shogunate took the city of Edo (later to become part of modern-day Tōkyō) as their capital. They built an imposing fortress around which buildings of
6944-742: The aid of storage jars. Later in the period, a colder climate with greater rainfall led to a decline in population, which contributed to an interest in ritual. Concentric stone circles first appeared during this time. During the Yayoi period, the Japanese people began to interact with the Chinese Han dynasty , whose knowledge and technical skills began to influence them. The Japanese began to build raised-floor storehouses as granaries, which were constructed using metal tools like saws and chisels that began to appear at this time. A reconstruction in Toro, Shizuoka
7068-606: The area were provided by the British architect Thomas James Waters ; the Bureau of Construction of the Ministry of Finance was in charge of construction. In the following year, a Western-style Ginza was completed. "Bricktown" buildings were initially offered for sale, later they were leased, but the high rent meant that many remained unoccupied. Nevertheless, the area flourished as a symbol of "civilization and enlightenment", thanks to
7192-418: The article ken ). Even in cases as that of Nikkō Tōshō-gū , where every available space is heavily decorated, ornamentation tends to follow, and therefore emphasize, rather than hide, basic structures. Being shared by both sacred and profane architecture, these features made it easy converting a lay building into a temple or vice versa. This happened for example at Hōryū-ji , where a noblewoman's mansion
7316-647: The back side of the lath is accessible, it is possible to create new keys where they have failed. This is most often done by conservators when one wants to maintain the original finished surface of the wall or ceiling. After bracing the failing plaster in place, a bonding agent and a plaster are applied to the back of the laths and forced through the gaps to the back side of the original plaster. Lath and plaster walls have several benefits, including fire and mold resistance, soundproofing , and heat insulation . Though wooden lath can be susceptible to mold growth and decay, metal lath covered in plaster creates an environment that
7440-476: The bars of Venetian blinds , and window shutters . Lath is also used on many tobacco farms in the Connecticut Valley as a means to carry and hang the plant in barns. This is achieved by using one of two methods: hooking or spearing. A "spear" lath is a regular lath that is held in an upright position. A worker then mounts a spear on top and "spears" the tobacco onto the lath. The other form of lath
7564-463: The building site. Ihe 1930s to 1940s the use of lath and plaster was replaced with plasterboard , which was cheaper and easier to use. Counter-lath is a term used in roofing and plastering for a piece of wood placed perpendicular to the lath. In roofing, a counter-lath is a slight piece of timber parallel with and between common rafters to give the lath extra support, or a lath placed by eye between every two gauged ones. When plastering, sometimes
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#17327918938897688-424: The building to an outsider, but part of the external world to those in the building. Structures are therefore made to a certain extent part of their environment. Care is taken to blend the edifice into the surrounding natural environment. The use of construction modules keeps proportions between different parts of the edifice constant, preserving its overall harmony. (On the subject of building proportions, see also
7812-663: The building. Less traditionally, rigid light-diffusing panels of plastics are also used, such as approximately 2 mm-thick acrylic or polycarbonate which can be frosted or bonded to a printed film. Fiberglass-reinforced acrylic is also used. Rigid translucent panels cannot readily be spliced; one continuous sheet must usually be used per frame. Plastic panels are waterproof, and some may be used outdoors year-round. Paperlike sheets of plastic nonwoven fabrics may also be used, including polypropylene (like that used in surgical masks and other disposable clothing). A peel-and-stick film made of epoxy and white non-woven fiberglass
7936-552: The canals. The dōzō were built with a structural frame made of timber coated with a number of layers of earthen plaster on the walls, door and roof. Above the earthen roofs was a timber framework supporting a tiled roof. Although Japanese who had studied with the Dutch at their settlement in Dejima advocated building with stone and brick this was not undertaken because of their vulnerability to earthquakes. Machiya and storehouses from
8060-416: The case of temples and shrines. Simpler solutions are adopted in domestic structures. The oversize eaves give the interior a characteristic dimness, which contributes to the building's atmosphere. The interior of the building normally consists of a single room at the center called moya , from which depart any other less important spaces. Inner space divisions are fluid, and room size can be modified through
8184-504: The court and the laity in the capital. The irregular topography of these sites forced their designers to rethink the problems of temple construction, and in so doing to choose more indigenous elements of design. At this time the architectural style of Buddhist temples began to influence that of the Shintō shrines . For example, like their Buddhist counterparts the Shintō shrines began to paint
8308-482: The design of chashitsu (tea houses) to a modest size with simple detailing and materials. A typically sized Chashitsu is 4 1/2 tatami mats in size. In the garden, Zen principles replaced water with sand or gravel to produce the dry garden ( karesansui ) like the one at Ryōan-ji . During the Azuchi–Momoyama period (1568–1600) Japan underwent a process of unification after a long period of civil war. It
8432-410: The early 1880s for building wooden lobster traps . Historically there were three ways of making wood lath for plaster: riven lath, accordion lath, and circular sawn lath. Riven lath was traditionally split with the grain from chestnut, oak, and similar hardwoods, or from softwoods like eastern white pine. Individual laths were riven and nailed in place. Because they are split with the grain, riven lath
8556-513: The early 7th century as the private temple of Crown Prince Shōtoku , it consists of 41 independent buildings; the most important ones, the main worship hall, or Kon-dō (金堂, Golden Hall), and the five-story pagoda ), stand in the centre of an open area surrounded by a roofed cloister ( kairō ). The Kon-dō, in the style of Chinese worship halls, is a two-story structure of post-and-beam construction, capped by an irimoya , or hipped-gabled, roof of ceramic tiles. Heijō-kyō , modern day Nara,
8680-405: The edges and multiple variations were developed in the 1930s. Gypsum lath is available with a foil facing, which acts as a vapor barrier and heat reflector, and as a veneer base for plaster veneer . Keys are formed by plaster that oozes through the spaces or gaps between wooden lath, or the holes in metal lath, and around to the lath's back side. This secures the plaster to the lath by creating
8804-534: The end of the Tokugawa shogunate, Western influence in architecture began to show in buildings associated with the military and trade, especially naval and industrial facilities. After the Emperor Meiji was restored to power (known as the Meiji Restoration ) Japan began a rapid process of Westernization which led to the need for new building types such as schools, banks and hotels. Early Meiji Architecture
8928-520: The first permanent capital in Nara . Its checkerboard street layout used the Chinese capital of Chang'an as a template for its design. In 894 during the Heian period (794–1185), Japan abolished kentōshi (Japanese missions to Tang China) and began to distance itself from Chinese culture, and a culture called Kokufu bunka (lit., Japanese culture) which was suited to the Japanese climate and aesthetic sense flourished. The shinden-zukuri style, which
9052-426: The floor, traditionally; chairs and high tables were not widely used until the 20th century. Since the 19th century, however, Japan has incorporated much of Western, modern , and post-modern architecture into construction and design, and is today a leader in cutting-edge architectural design and technology. The earliest Japanese architecture was seen in prehistoric times in simple pit-houses and stores adapted to
9176-496: The following Muromachi period (1336–1573), Japanese Buddhist architecture made technological advances that made it diverge from its Chinese counterpart. In response to native requirements such as earthquake resistance and shelter against heavy rainfall and the summer heat and sun, the master carpenters of this time responded with a unique type of architecture, creating the Daibutsuyō and Zenshūyō styles. The Wayō style
9300-445: The gap between the panels when they were closed. In the Muromachi period , hiki-do improved, and the Shoin style of architecture was developed. The rising warrior class seeking to emulate the aristocratic fashions, and the aristocrats, who had lost wealth, could no longer afford Shiden-style palaces. Conrad Totman argues that deforestation was a factor in the style changes, including the change from panelled wooden sliding doors to
9424-477: The interior. While shoji block wind, they do allow air to diffuse through, important when buildings were heated with charcoal . Like curtains, shoji give visual privacy, but they do not block sounds. Shoji are also thought to encourage a home's inhabitants to speak and move softly, calmly, and gracefully, an important part of the ethos behind sukiya-zukuri architecture. Sliding doors cannot traditionally be locked. Shoji rose in popularity as an integral element of
9548-454: The interiors of residential buildings with highly cultivated exterior gardens. Fusuma and byōbu became highly decorated with paintings and often an interior room with shelving and alcove ( tokonoma ) were used to display art work (typically a hanging scroll). During this period, sukiya-zukuri style villas appeared under the influence of a tea house called chashitsu (tea house). Matsumoto , Kumamoto and Himeji (popularly known as
9672-466: The introduction of Buddhism . New temples became centers of worship with tomb burial practices quickly becoming outlawed. Also, Buddhism brought with it the idea of permanent shrines and gave to Shinto architecture much of its present vocabulary. Some of the earliest structures still extant in Japan are Buddhist temples established at this time. The oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world are found at Hōryū-ji , northeast of Nara . First built in
9796-520: The keys can deteriorate and crack, weakening their ability to hold the plaster onto the lath. The addition of hair in plaster helps to prevent this by adding strength. Problems can also occur in the keys if they were not properly formed to begin with, which can happen when laths are set too close together for plaster to travel though. Key failure often manifests as looseness and sagging in walls or ceilings, and in worst cases can lead to plaster breakage and collapse. Repairing damaged lath and plaster walls
9920-426: The late 1800s, these small panels were the only use of glass in shoji; blown plate glass was expensive and available in small panes. Cheaper plate glass was introduced to Japan circa the late 1800s. It was widely applied to traditional kōshi doors, without much change to the traditional form and structure. The oiled paper in ama-shōji was also replaced with glass. Yukimi shoji ( 雪見障子 , snow-watching shoji) have
10044-636: The later part of the period are characterised by having a black coloration to the external plaster walls. This colour was made by adding India ink to burnt lime and crushed oyster shell. The clean lines of the civil architecture in Edo influenced the sukiya style of residential architecture. Katsura Detached Palace and Shugaku-in Imperial Villa on the outskirts of Kyōto are good examples of this style. Their architecture has simple lines and decor and uses wood in its natural state. The sukiya style
10168-674: The laths are interwoven. The interweaving is structural, and the paper (which is tensioned by spraying it with water) further strengthens the finished panel. Frames can easily be broken by stepping on them when they are dismounted and stripped for re-papering. No fasteners are traditionally used to hold the frame together. Rice glue can also be used in the frame joints. Coniferous wood is preferred for its fine, straight grain. Shoji with kōshi made of split bamboo are called take-shōji ( 竹障子 ). Kōshi are sometimes made of aluminium, shaped to resemble wood. Most shoji lattices are rectangular. However, about 200 traditional patterns are used; each has
10292-470: The lightweight covered-frame shoji and fusuma . Japanese architecture Japanese architecture ( 日本建築 , Nihon kenchiku ) has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors ( fusuma ) and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to be customized for different occasions. People usually sat on cushions or otherwise on
10416-484: The main hall is a Rushana Buddha, the figure that represents the essence of Buddhahood , just as Tōdai-ji represented the centre for imperially sponsored Buddhism and its dissemination throughout Japan. Only a few fragments of the original statue survive, and the present hall and central Buddha are reconstructions from the Edo period . Clustered around the main hall (the Daibutsuden) on a gently sloping hillside are
10540-404: The mainstream. Shoin-zukuri had a lasting impact on later Japanese housing and is the basis of modern Japanese housing. In the old architectural style, tatami mats were laid only in a part of the room, but in the shoin-zukuri style, tatami mats were laid all over the room. In this style, sliding doors called fusuma were used to separate rooms, and an inner window called shoji , which
10664-617: The mid-900s, for the lakeside palaces of aristocrats. The outside could be closed off with heavy wooden shutters called shitomi -do ( 蔀戸 ), which were usually horizontally split and hinged (hajitomi), but were occasionally vertically split and hinged. Sliding partitions (hiki-do, 引戸 , literally "sliding door") did not come into use until the tail end of the Heian, and the beginning of the Kamakura period. Early sliding doors were heavy; some were made of solid wood. Initially used in expensive mansions, they eventually came to be used in more ordinary houses as well. Smooth fitting of panel and groove
10788-565: The most notable is the Daisen-kofun , designated as the tomb of Emperor Nintoku . The tomb covers 32 hectares (79 acres) and it is thought to have been decorated with 20,000 haniwa figures. Towards the end of the Kofun period, tomb burials faded out as Buddhist cremation ceremonies gained popularity. The most significant contributor to architectural changes during the Asuka period was
10912-466: The needs of a hunter-gatherer population. Influence from Han dynasty China via Korea saw the introduction of more complex grain stores and ceremonial burial chambers. The introduction of Buddhism in Japan during the sixth century was a catalyst for large-scale temple building using complicated techniques in wood. Influence from the Chinese Sui and Tang dynasties led to the foundation of
11036-418: The network of Buddhist temples across the country acted as a catalyst for an exploration of architecture and culture, this also led to the clergy gaining increased power and influence. Emperor Kanmu decided to escape this influence by moving his capital first to Nagaoka-kyō and then to Heian-kyō , known today as Kyōto . Although the layout of the city was similar to Nara's and inspired by Chinese precedents,
11160-412: The normally unfinished timbers with the characteristic red cinnabar colour. During the later part of the Heian period there were the first documented appearances of vernacular houses in the minka style/form. These were characterized by the use local materials and labor, being primarily constructed of wood, having packed earth floors and thatched roofs. During the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and
11284-685: The only structural member that was neither horizontal nor vertical). The rest of the structure is non-load-bearing. The roof completed, all but the cheapest buildings also added a raised plank floor (except in the kitchen). The remaining question was what to do with the space between the pillars, the hashira-ma ( 柱間 , はしらま ). The hashira-ma might be filled with fixed walls, in cheaper Japanese homes . For example, there might be lath-and-plaster walls, or in colder areas thatch walls; these are still used in rustic teahouses and historic buildings (see images). Bark-and-bamboo walls, clapboard , and board-and-batten walls were also used. Where affordable, though,
11408-497: The other hand, especially in ancient times, it was strongly influenced by Chinese culture like other Asian countries, so it has characteristics common to architecture in Asian countries. Partly due, also, to the variety of climates in Japan, and the millennium encompassed between the first cultural import and the last, the result is extremely heterogeneous, but several practically universal features can nonetheless be found. First of all
11532-450: The palaces, temples and dwellings began to show examples of local Japanese taste. Heavy materials like stone , mortar and clay were abandoned as building elements, with simple wooden walls, floors and partitions becoming prevalent. Native species like cedar ( sugi ) were popular as an interior finish because of its prominent grain, while pine ( matsu ) and larch ( aka matsu ) were common for structural uses. Brick roofing tiles and
11656-625: The planks; older rails are thicker and often chamfered . The rails are often grouped in clusters; this clustering is called fukiyose ( 吹寄 ). The spaces between the kumiko are sometimes left open, and the kōshi panel used as an open lattice, especially in summer, for more air circulation. Kōshi may be made into windows ( kōshi-mado , 格子窓 ) or doors ( kōshi-do , 格子戸 ). Kōshi that are traditionally left open are now often filled with glass; this does not require much change to their appearance or structure, and glazed kōshi are still considered kōshi. Some lattice patterns have heraldic meanings, identifying
11780-526: The presence of newspapers and magazine companies, who led the trends of the day. The area was also known for its window displays, an example of modern marketing techniques. The "Bricktown" of Ginza served as a model for many other modernization schemes in Japanese cities. One of the prime examples of early western architecture was the Rokumeikan , a large two-story building in Tokyo, completed in 1883, which
11904-460: The room. The introduction of the tea ceremony emphasised simplicity and modest design as a counterpoint to the excesses of the aristocracy. In the Azuchi–Momoyama period (1568–1600), sukiya-zukuri style villas appeared under the influence of a tea house called chashitsu . At first it was an architectural style for the villas of daimyo (Japanese feudal lords) and court nobles, but in
12028-455: The shoji must be removed. As the panels are usually slightly different, it is important to put them back in the same order, without swapping them around, so that they will continue to slide easily. This type of mounting, where the panels overlap by a stile-width when closed, is called hiki-chigai ( 引違 ). Hiki-chigai came to be used in minka (commoners' homes) in the mid-Edo Period (c. 1700s). Katabiki shoji ( 片引障子 ) are single panels sliding in
12152-465: The shoji often do not form the exterior surface of the building; they sit inside a sliding glass door or window. Shoji are valued for not setting a sharp barrier between the interior and the exterior; outside influences such as the swaying silhouettes of trees, or the chorus of frogs , can be appreciated from inside the house. As exterior walls, shoji diffuse sunlight into the house; as interior partitions between rooms, they allow natural light deep into
12276-446: The short diagonal to push them back square. There can be substantial artistry in frame design. The kumiko are the fine wooden laths of the screen, and the tsukeko are the heavier members (usually around the edge). The tsukeko are joined with mortise-and-tenon joints, with either a jaguchi joint or a more complex mitered joint. The jigumi kumiko are generally joined with simple halved joints , but where jigumi kumiko cross at
12400-556: The simple buke-zukuri style to resemble the earlier shinden-zukuri style. A good example of this ostentatious architecture is the Kinkaku-ji in Kyōto, which is decorated with lacquer and gold leaf , in contrast to its otherwise simple structure and plain bark roofs. During the Muromachi period, shinden-zukuri style, which was the mainstream of the residences of Japanese nobles, declined, and shoin-zukuri , which developed from buke-zukuri of samurai class residences, became
12524-434: The state administration and residences for the provincial daimyōs were constructed. The city grew around these buildings connected by a network of roads and canals. By 1700 the population had swollen to one million inhabitants. The scarcity of space for residential architecture resulted in houses being built over two stories, often constructed on raised stone plinths. Although machiya (townhouses) had been around since
12648-673: The tendency was against permanent walls. Instead, openable or removable screens were used, and their type, number, and position adjusted according to the weather without and the activities within. These items can collectively be termed hashira-ma equipment . The technology of hashira-ma equipment has developed over time, and shoji were among those developments. Shoji have imposed constraints on other types of hashira-ma equipment: being translucent, non-waterproof, light, and fragile, they need protection, but they also need access to light. Literally, shoji means "small obstructing thing" ( 障子 ; it might be translated as " screen "), and though this use
12772-719: The top of the window, and the topmost frame member is extended into two horizontal projections that rest in the hooks (see photo above). Like katabiki shoji, kake shoji may be placed on the inside or the outside of the wall, depending on what suits the window. Hiraki shoji are mounted on hinges in a doorframe, and open like a standard western door. Some are single doors, some double doors . Double doors, whether bifold doors or not, are termed ryōbiraki shoji ( 両開障子 ). Tsukuritsuke shoji ( 造付障子 , "fixed shoji"), are often horizontal strips. Traditional Japanese buildings are post-and-lintel structures. They are built around vertical posts, connected by horizontal beams ( rafters were traditionally
12896-661: The trade of a shopowner, for instance. Frames may also be backed with wire mesh , for ventilation without insects. Sudare -shōji ( 簾障子 ; also called sudo , 簾戸 ) are filled with Phragmites reed, cat-tail stalks, pampas grass , or fine bamboo, held together by a few rows of thread woven around the stems. These provide more shade and ventilation than paper-backed shoji, and are also called natsu-shōji ( 夏障子 , "summer shoji"), as they may be used seasonally. For instance, in Kyoto , both paper shoji and fusuma will be removed and replaced with sudo doors and sudare blinds; this
13020-409: The two which had lasted well over a thousand years. Secondly, it was then that Japan underwent a period of intense Westernization in order to compete with other developed countries. Initially, architects and styles from abroad were imported to Japan, but gradually the country taught its own architects and began to express its own style. Architects returning from study with Western architects introduced
13144-442: The use of screens or movable paper walls. The large, single space offered by the main hall can therefore be divided according to the need. For example, some walls can be removed and different rooms joined temporarily to make space for some more guests. The separation between inside and outside is itself in some measure not absolute as entire walls can be removed, opening a residence or temple to visitors. Verandas appear to be part of
13268-554: The walls are paper-thin, often movable and never load-bearing . Arches and barrel roofs are completely absent. Gable and eave curves are gentler than in China and columnar entasis (convexity at the center) limited. The roof is the most visually impressive component, often constituting half the size of the whole edifice. The slightly curved eaves extend far beyond the walls, covering verandas , and their weight must therefore be supported by complex bracket systems called tokyō , in
13392-588: The wealth and power of the feudal lords were constructed, such as the Kamiyashiki of Matsudaira Tadamasa or the Ōzone Shimoyashiki . Edo suffered badly from devastating fires and the 1657 Great Fire of Meireki was a turning point in urban design. Initially, as a method of reducing fire spread, the government built stone embankments in at least two locations along rivers in the city. Over time these were torn down and replaced with dōzō storehouses that were used both as fire breaks and to store goods unloaded from
13516-407: The windows to precipitation. In Japan, deep eaves were conventional, and oiled-paper windows were rare. The smooth sheet of paper covering the back of a shoji can make it difficult to grip and slide the shoji from the outside. To solve this, a single square in the frame may be papered only on the opposite side, and/or a groove may be cut in the outside of the frame (see image). This doorpull is called
13640-403: The wood may wear with use, or warp due to changes in humidity. A well-made traditional groove system is light enough that the door can be slid with one finger. Traditionally, grooves were waxed; more modernly, grooves may be lined with low-friction plastic. Shoji are often mounted in pairs, with two panels and two grooves in each opening. When closed, adjacent sliding shoji overlap by the width of
13764-408: The wooden frame edge. Shoji are also mounted four panels to the opening. In this case, the innermost pair are generally mounted on the same track, and the outermost pair on a different track; A rounded tongue and groove are cut so that the innermost pair interlock. The double parallel grooves allow the shoji to be slid so that they occupy nearly half of their closed width; if a larger opening is needed,
13888-468: Was also used as a lath material. One of the key elements of lath, whether wooden slats or wire mesh, are the openings or gaps that allow plaster or stucco to ooze behind and form a mechanical bond to the lath. This is not necessary for gypsum lath, which relies on a chemical bond. The word lath is recorded from the late 13th century and is likely derived from the Old English word * læððe ,
14012-402: Was applied not only to villas but also to ryōtei (Japanese-style restaurants) and chashitsu , and later it was also applied to residences. In the very late part of the period sankin-kōtai , the law requiring the daimyōs to maintain dwellings in the capital was repealed which resulted in a decrease in population in Edo and a commensurate reduction in income for the shogunate. Towards
14136-748: Was combined with Daibutsuyō and the Zenshūyō to create the Shin-Wayō and the Setchūyō styles, and the number of temples in the pure Wayō style decreased after the 14th century. The Kamakura period began with the transfer of power in Japan from the imperial court to the Kamakura shogunate . During the Genpei War (1180–1185), many traditional buildings in Nara and Kyoto were damaged. For example, Kōfuku-ji and Tōdai-ji were burned down by Taira no Shigehira of
14260-413: Was established. The priest Kūkai (best known by the posthumous title Kōbō Daishi, 774–835) journeyed to China to study Shingon , a form of Vajrayana Buddhism, which he introduced into Japan in 806. At the core of Shingon worship are the various mandalas , diagrams of the spiritual universe that influenced temple design. The temples erected for this new sect were built in the mountains, far away from
14384-518: Was founded in 708 as the first permanent capital of the state of Japan. The layout of its checkerboard streets and buildings were modeled after the Chinese capital of Chang'an . The city soon became an important centre of Buddhist worship in Japan. The most grandiose of these temples was Tōdai-ji , built to rival temples of the Chinese Tang and Sui dynasties. Appropriately, the 16.2-m (53-ft) Buddha or Daibutsu (completed in 752) enshrined in
14508-508: Was initially influenced by colonial architecture in Chinese treaty ports such as Hong Kong. In Nagasaki , the British trader Thomas Glover built his own house in just such a style using the skill of local carpenters. His influence helped the career of architect Thomas Waters [ ja ] who designed the Osaka Mint in 1868, a long, low building in brick and stone with a central pedimented portico . In Tōkyō, Waters designed
14632-451: Was made by pasting paper permeable to sunlight on a wooden frame, was installed inside the wooden shutters. In the room, tokonoma (alcove for the display of art objects) and chigaidana (shelves built into the wall) were set up to decorate various things. In an attempt to rein in the excess of the upper classes, the Zen masters introduced the tea ceremony . In architecture this promoted
14756-634: Was marked by the rule of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi , men who built castles as symbols of their power; Nobunaga in Azuchi , the seat of his government, and Hideyoshi in Momoyama . The Ōnin War during the Muromachi period had led to rise of castle architecture in Japan. By the time of the Azuchi-Momoyama period each domain was allowed to have one castle of its own. Typically it consisted of
14880-541: Was still employed for new buildings, such as the Kyūden of Tokyo Imperial Palace , albeit with token western elements such as a spouting water fountain in the gardens. Lath Lath has expanded to mean any type of backing material for plaster. This includes metal wire mesh or expanded metal that is applied to a wood or metal framework as matrix over which stucco or plaster is applied, as well as drywall products called gypsum or rock lath. Historically, reed mat
15004-488: Was the architectural style of the residences of nobles in this period, showed the distinct uniqueness of Japanese architecture and permanently determined the characteristics of later Japanese architecture. Its features are an open structure with few walls that can be opened and closed with doors, shitomi and sudare , a structure in which shoes are taken off to enter the house on stilts, and sitting or sleeping directly on tatami mats without using chairs and beds. As
15128-679: Was to become a controversial symbol of Westernisation in the Meiji period . Commissioned for the housing of foreign guests by the Foreign Minister Inoue Kaoru , it was designed by Josiah Conder [ ja ] , a prominent foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan ( o-yatoi gaikokujin ). The Ryōunkaku was Japan's first western-style skyscraper, constructed in 1890 in Asakusa . However traditional architecture
15252-676: Was transformed into a religious building. The prehistoric period includes the Jōmon , Yayoi and Kofun periods stretching from approximately 5000 BCE to the beginning of the eighth century CE. During the three phases of the Jōmon period the population was primarily hunter-gatherer with some primitive agriculture skills and their behaviour was predominantly determined by changes in climatic conditions and other natural stimulants. Early dwellings were pit houses consisting of shallow pits with tamped earth floors and grass roofs designed to collect rainwater with
15376-403: Was used to smooth the bottom of the groove, and a wakitori kanna for the sides of the groove (these planes also became more elaborate, later adding screw adjustments and other machined-metal refinements). Before hiki-chigai (sliding panels that overlap when closed) became standard in the Muromachi period, hiki-do had a central vertical rail (nakahōdate, 中方立 ) in the middle of each opening to cover
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