Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings/Glossary
Glossary.
In the following list of Japanese words used in this work an opportunity is given to correct a number of mistakes which erept into, or rather walked boldly into, the text. The author lays no claim to a knowledge of the Japanese language beyond what any foreigner might naturally acquire in being thrown among the people for some time. As far as possible he has followed Hepburn's Japanese Dictionary for orthography and definition, and Brunton's Map of Japan for geographical names. Brunton's map, as well as that published by Rein, spells Settsu with one t. For the sake of uniformity I have followed this spelling in the text, though it is contrary to the best authorities. It may be added that Ōshiu and Tōtōmi should be printed with a long accent over each o.
The words Samurai, Daimio, Kioto, Tokio, and several others, are now so commonly seen in the periodical literature of our country that this form of spelling for these words has been retained. For rules concerning the pronunciation of Japanese words the reader is referred to the introduction in Hepburn's Dictionary.
- Agari-ba
- The floor for standing upon in coming out of the bath.
- Age-yen
- A platform that can be raised or lowered.
- Amado
- Rain-door. The outside sliding doors by which the house is closed at night.
- Andou
- A lamp.
- Asagao
- A colloquial name for a porcelain urinal, from its resemblance to the flower of the morning-glory.
- Benjo
- Privy. Place for business.
- Biwa
- A lute with four strings.
- Biyō-bu
- A folding screen.
- Cha-dokoro
- Tea-place.
- Cha-ire
- Tea-jar; literally, "tea-put in."
- Cha-no-yu
- A tea-party.
- Chigai-dana
- A shelf, one half of which is on a different plane from the other.
- Chōdzu-ba
- Privy literally, "hand water-place."
- Chōdzu-bachi
- A convenience near the privy for washing the hands.
- Chū-nuri
- Middle layer of plaster.
- Dai-jū-no
- A pan for holding burning charcoal, used in replenishing the hibachi.
- Daiku
- A carpenter.
- Daimio
- A feudal lord.
- Dodai
- The foundation-sill of a house.
- Dodai-ishi
- Foundation stone.
- Do-ma
- Earth-space. A small unfloored court at the entrance of the house.
- Fukuro-dana
- Cupboard; literally, "ponch-shelf."
- Fumi-ishi
- Stepping-stone.
- Furo
- A small culinary furnace, also a bath-tub.
- Furosaki biyō-bu
- A two-fold screen placed in front of the furo.
- Fusuma
- A sliding screen between rooms.
- Fu-tai
- The bands which hang down in front of a kake-mono; literally, wind-band."
- Futon
- A quilted bed-cover.
- Ge-dan
- Lower step.
- Genka
- The porch at the entrance of a house.
- Geta
- Wooden clogs.
- Goyemon buro
- A form of bath-tnb.
- Habakari
- Privy.
- Hagi
- A kind of rush.
- Hashira
- A post.
- Hashira kakushi
- A long narrow picture to hang on post in room; literally, "post-hide."
- Hibachi
- A brazier for holding hot coals for warining the apartments.
- Hibashi
- Metal tongs.
- Hikite
- A recessed catch in a screen for sliding it back and forth.
- Hi-no-ki
- A species of pine.
- Hisashi
- A small roof projecting over a door or window,
- Hon-gawara
- True tile.
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- Ichi-yo-dana
- A kind of shelf.
- Iri-kawa
- The space between the verandah and room.
- Ishi-dōrō
- A stone lantern.
- Ji-bukuro
- Cupboard.
- Jin-dai-sugi
- "Cedar of God's age."
- Jinrikisha
- A two-wheeled vehicle drawn by a man.
- Ji-zai
- A hook used for hanging pots over the fire.
- Jō-dan
- Upper step. Raised floor in house.
- Kago
- Sedan chair.
- Kaikōsha
- Name of a private school of architecture.
- Kake-mono
- Hanging picture.
- Kaki
- Fence.
- Kamado
- Kitchen range.
- Kami-dana
- A shelf in the house for Shin-tō shrine.
- Kami-no-ma
- Higher room.
- Kamoi
- Lintel.
- Kara-kami
- Sliding screen between rooms.
- Kawarake
- Unglazed earthen ware.
- Kaya
- A kind of grass used for thatch.
- Kaya
- Mosquito netting.
- Kazari-kugi
- Ornamental headed nails.
- Kaze-obi
- The bands which hang down in front of the kake-mono; literally, "wind-band."
- Keshō-no-ma
- Toilet-room.
- Keyaki
- A kind of hard wood.
- Kō-ka
- Privy; literally, "back frame."
- Koshi-bari
- A kind of paper used for a dado.
- Kuguri-do
- A small, low door in a gate.
- Kura
- A fire-proof store-house.
- Kuro-moji-gaki
- A kind of ornamental fence.
- Ma-bashira
- Middle post.
- Mado
- Window.
- Ma-gaki
- A fence made of bamboo.
- Magari-gane
- A carpenter's iron square.
- Maki-mono
- Pictures that are kept rolled up, not hung.
- Maki-mono-dana
- Shelf for maki-mono.
- Makura
- Pillow.
- Miki-dokkuri
- Bottle for offering wine to gods.
- Mochi
- A kind of bread made of glutinous rice.
- Mon
- Badge, or crest.
- Mune
- Ridge of roof.
- Naka-tsubo
- Middle space.
- Nan-do
- Store-room. Pantry.
- Neda-maruta
- Cross-beams to support floor.
- Nedzumi-bashira
- Cross-beam at end of building; literally, "rat-post."
- Nikai-bari
- Horizontal beam to support second-story floor.
- Noren
- Curtain. Hanging screen.
- Nuki
- A stick passed through mortised holes to bind together upright posts.
- Nuri-yen
- A verandah unprotected by amado.
- Ochi-yen
- A low platform.
- Oshi-ire
- Closet; literally, "push, put in."
- Otoshi-kake
- Hanging partition.
- Ramma
- Open ornamental work over the screens which form the partitions in the house.
- Ro
- Hearth, or fire-place, in the floor.
- Rō-ka
- Corridor. Covered way.
- Sake
- Fermented liquor brewed from rice.
- Samisen
- A guitar with three strings.
- Samisen-tsugi
- A peenliar splice for joining timber.
- Samurai
- Military class privileged to wear two swords.
- Sashi-mono-ya
- Cabinet-maker.
- Setsu-in
- Privy literally, "snow-hide."
- Shaku
- A wooden tablet formerly carried by nobles when in the presence of the Emperor.
- Shaku
- A measure of ten inches. Japanese foot.
- Shichirin
- A brazier for cooking purposes.
- Shikii
- The lower grooved beam in which the door or screens slide.
- Shin-tō
- The primitive religion of Japan.
- Shita-nuri
- The first layer of plaster.
- Shō-ji
- The outside door-sash covered with thin paper.
- Sode-gaki
- A small ornamental fence adjoining a house.
- Sudare
- A shade made of split bamboo or reeds.
- Sugi
- Cedar.
- Sumi-sashi
- A marking-brush made of wood.
- Sumi-tsubo
- An ink-pot used by carpenters in lieu of the chalk-line.
- Sun
- One tenth of a Japanese foot.
- Sunoko
- A platform made of bamboo.
- Tabako-bon
- A box or tray in which fire and smoking utensils are kept.
- Tamari-no-ma
- Anteroom.
- Tansu
- Bureau.
- Taruki
- A rafter of the roof.
- Tatami
- A floor-mat.
- Ten-jō
- Ceiling.
- Te-shoku
- Hand-lamp.
- To-bukuro
- A closet in which outside doors are stowed away.
- Tokkuri
- A bottle.
- Toko
- The floor of the tokonoma.
- Toko-bashira
- The post dividing the two bays or recesses in the guest-room.
- Tokonoma
- A bay, or recess, where a picture is hung.
- Tori-i
- A portal, or structure of stone or wood, erected in front of a Shin-tō temple.
- Tsubo
- An area of six feet square.
- Tsugi-no-ma
- Second room.
- Tsui-tate
- A screen of one leaf set in a frame.
- Tsume-sho
- A servant's waiting-room.
- Usukasumi-dana
- A name for shelf; literally, "thin mist-shelf."
- Uwa-nuri
- The last layer of plaster.
- Watari
- A passage; literally, "to cross over."
- Yane
- Roof.
- Yane-shita
- Roof-beams.
- Yashiki
- A lot of ground upon which a house stands. An enclosure for a Daimio's residence.
- Yedo-gawara
- Yedo tile.
- Yen
- A coin; equals one dollar.
- Yen-gawa
- Verandah.
- Yen-riyo
- Reserve.
- Yen-zashiki
- End-parlor.
- Yō-ba
- Privy; literally, "place for business."
- Yoshi
- A kind of reed.
- Yoshi-do
- A screen made of yoshi.
- Yu-dono
- Bath-room.
- Yuka-shita
- The beams supporting the first floor.