Archive for May, 2018

Kaki

kanji kakine_Kaki / Fence

Kaki or Kakine is an architectural element that marks area boundaries, and traditionally bamboo is used in Japan.

Design & Style

  • Takho-gaki illustration

    Takeho-gaki

    Takeho-gaki is made of bundled bomboo twigs instead of tree twigs. Katsuraho-gaki at Katsuara Imperial Village in Kyoto is the archetype of Takeho-gaki.

  • Shiba-gaki illustration

    Shiba-gaki

    Shiba-gaki is made of vertically installed tree twigs with horizontal supports keeping them in place. For preservation and aethetic reasons, simple eaves are sometimes installed on the top.

  • Koetsuji-gaki illustration

    Koetsuji-gaki

    Koetsu-gaki is named after Koetsu-ji Temple in Kyoto and made of bundled split bamboos on the top with round bamboos woving diamond shaped lattice framework to allow views through it.

  • Kennin-ji Gaki illustration

    Kennin-ji-gaki

    Kennin-ji-gaki is made of halved or quartered bomboos placed vertically without a gap with horizontally placed bamboos keeping everything in place.

  • Yotsume-gaki illustration

    Yotsume-gaki

    Yotsume-gaki is the simplest type of bamboo fence, whose horizontal and vertical members form rectangular grids.

Gallery

  • Koetsu-gaki at Hokoku-ji Temple

    Koetsu-gaki
    Hokoku-ji in Kamakura

  • Koetsu-gaki at Jomyo-ji Temple

    Koetsu-gaki
    Jomyo-ji in Kamakura

  • Koetsu-gaki at Ryoan-ji Temple

    Koetsu-gaki
    Ryoan-ji in Kamakura

  • Shiba-gaki at Ghio-ji Temple

    Shiba-gaki
    Ghio-ji in Kyoto

  • Shiba-gaki at Katsura Temple

    Shiba-gaki
    Katsura Imperial Palace in Kyoto

  • Takeho-gaki at Katsura Temple

    Takeho-gaki
    Katsura Imperial Palace in Kyoto

Entrance

kanji nijiri guchi_Nijiri guchi

Nijiri guchi is a small entrance at a teahouse, whose size-about 60cm x 60cm(2ft x 2ft)-forces guests to vow before entering the tearoom.

kanji kinin guchi_kinin guchi

Kinin guchi is an optional entrance besides Nijiri guchi at a teahouse, provided for nobles to enter without vowing down.

How to Use

illustraion of how to enter nijiri-guchi

Put your fists and knees on tatami mats, as you lower your head into nijiri guchi. Slide forward your knees to fully enter, and that movement, called njiru is the origin of nigiri guchi.

Gallery

  • image of Chasodo's nijiri-guchi

    Njiriguchi(right)
    Chasodo in Okayama

  • image of Kaho-an's nijiri-guchi

    Njiriguchi(left) & Kininguchi(right)
    Kaho-an in Kyoto

  • image of Shokintei's nijiri-guchi

    Njiriguchi
    Shokintei in Kyoto

Tobi ishi

kanji tobi ishi_Tobi ishi / Stepping Stones

Tobi ishi is stepping stones in the Japanese garden.

Design & Styles

  • Choku-uchi Style

    Choku-uchi Style

  • Omagari-uchi Style

    Omagari-uchi Style

  • Chidori-uchi Style

    Chidori-uchi Style

  • Nirenda　Style

    Nirenda Style

  • Sanrenda Style

    Sanrenda Style

  • Ikada-uchi Style

    Ikada-uchi Style

Gallery

  • nobedan at Katsuara Imperial Palace

    Nobedan – Katsuara Imperial Palace

  • nobedan at Jomyo-ji Temple

    Nobedan – Jomyo-ji temple

  • Tobi ishi at Katsuara Imperial Palace

    Tobi ishi – Katsuara Imperial Palace

  • Tobi ishi at Jomyo-ji Temple

    Tobi ishi – Jomyo-ji Temple

Toro

kanji toro_Toro / Lanttern

Toro is a traditional lantern used for both lighting and decoration, and it is one of three major elements of the Japanese tea gardens.

Gallery

  • ungen beri

    Square Style
    Sanzen-in

  • Toro in Shugakuin

    Circular Style
    Shugakuin Imperial Village

  • Toro in Katsura

    Square Style
    Katsuara Imperial Village

  • Oribe-gata Lanttern in Katsura

    Oribe-gata Style
    Katsuara Imperial Village

  • Yukimi-gata Style Lanttern in Katsura

    Yukimi-gata Style
    Katsuara Imperial Village

  • Tamate-gata Style Lanttern in Katsura

    Tamate-gata Style
    Katsuara Imperial Village

Tsukubai

kanji tsukubai_Tsukubai / Wash baisin

Tsukubai is a shorter type of chozubachi(stone washbasin) whose height makes ones to squat – tsukubau in Japanese – to use it. It is provided in the tea garden for guests to purify themselves by washing their hands before attending a tea ceremony.

Gallery

  • tsukubai at Ryoan-ji

    Zeni-gata Style
    Ryoan-ji temple in Kyoto

  • tsukubai at Jomyoji

    Kesa-gata Style
    Jyomyo-ji Temple in Kamakura

  • tsukubai at Katsura Imperial Village

    Nijyumasu-gata Style
    Katsura in Kyoto

  • tsukubai at Kennin-ji Temple

    Ichimonji-gata Style
    Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto