Ninomaru Palace at Nijo-jo (Nijo Castle), Kyoto, Japan

Corner turret and east main gate

garden

Honmaru Palace

Karamon (gate) with kara-hafu gable

Ninomaru Palace viewed through

Karamon

post-and-beam construction

Ninomaru Palace: Ohiroma reception

rooms

Shoin style architecture

Ohiroma reception rooms

Elements of Shoin architecture:

fusuma screens = painted screens

shoji screens = translucent screens

tatami mats 3’ x 6’ module

jodan no ma = upper chamber

gedan no ma = lower chamber

chodai no ma = ancillary chamber

Elements of Shoin architecture:

fusuma screens jodan no ma = upper chamber tokonoma = decorative alcove

shoji screens gedan no ma = lower chamber tsukeshoin = desk alcove

tatami mats chodai no ma = ancillary chamber chigaidana = staggered shelves

coffered ceiling chodaigamae = decorative doors

Elements of Shoin architecture:

fusuma screens jodan no ma = upper chamber tokonoma = decorative alcove

shoji screens gedan no ma = lower chamber tsukeshoin = desk alcove

tatami mats chodai no ma = ancillary chamber chigaidana = staggered shelves

coffered ceiling chodaigamae = decorative doors

Elements of Shoin architecture:

fusuma screens jodan no ma = upper chamber tokonoma = decorative alcove

shoji screens gedan no ma = lower chamber tsukeshoin = desk alcove

tatami mats chodai no ma = ancillary chamber chigaidana = staggered shelves

offered ceiling chodaigamae = decorative doors

Nikko Toshogu (Toshogu Shrine)

Nikko, Japan, 1617

Torii framing approach to Yomeimon of main shrine

Karamon

Yomeimon with flanking corridors

Yomeimon

kara-yo = Chinese-style architecture

including brackets adapted from

Chinese models

Main Hall