Minka (Japanese:民家, lit. "folk houses") arevernacular houses constructed in any one of several traditionalJapanese building styles.In the context of thefour divisions of society,Minka were the dwellings of farmers, artisans, and merchants (i.e., the three non-samuraicastes).[1] This connotation no longer exists in the modern Japanese language, and any traditional Japanese-style residence of appropriate age could be referred to asMinka.
Minka are characterized by their basic structure, their roof structure, and their roof shape.Minka developed through history with distinctive styles emerging in theEdo period.
Minka come in a wide range of styles and sizes, largely as a result of differing geographic and climatic conditions as well as the lifestyle of the inhabitants. They generally fall into one of four classifications: farmhousesnōka (農家) town housesmachiya (町屋), fishermen's dwellingsgyoka (漁家) and mountain dwellingssanka (山家).[2]
Unlike other forms ofJapanese architecture (such as those of thesukiya (数寄屋) style), it is the structure rather than the plan that is of primary importance to theminka.[3]Minka are divided up with primary posts that form the basic framework and bear the structural load of the building; secondary posts are arranged to suit the functional arrangements of the plan.[4]
Despite the wide variety ofminka, there are eight basic forms:
Theodachi style has rafters, crossbeams and short vertical posts to support the ridge. Historically, these posts would have extended to the ground resulting in a row of posts extending down the centre of the house and dividing it. Although these could be accommodated in the layout of the main house, they were impractical in the earth-floored entrance area—so they were omitted and a special beam structure used instead.[10] This style was in wide use until the Edo period when a shift was made to thesasu style (although both types had been used since historic times).[11]
Thesasu style is a simpler triangular shape with a pair of rafters joined at the top to support the ridge pole. The ends of these rafters were sharpened to fit into mortice holes at either end of crossbeam.[9] As this system does not rely on central posts it leaves a more unobstructed plan than theodachi style.[10]
There were two main methods for setting out the floor plan of theminka. Thekyoma (京間) method uses a standard size oftatami (畳) mat, whereas theinakama (田舎間) method is based upon column spacing.[12]
Thekyoma method works well forminka without central columns as the mats and the sliding partitions (fusuma (襖) andshōji (障子)) can be based on a standard size. It was mainly used inminka in western Japan.[13] The method has its disadvantages if used with posts because variations in post width can make the prefabrication of the sliding partitions difficult.[12]
Theinakama method is based upon the distance between centre of one post and centre of the post adjacent to it and it was mainly used on the eastern side of Japan.[13]
The size, construction and decoration of aminka was dependent upon its location, climate, and social status of its owner.[14]
Minka were influenced by local building techniques and were built with materials that were abundant in the immediate locality. For example,minka in Shizuoka used abundant bamboo for roofs, eaves, doors and floors. Whenmiscanthus reeds were difficult to obtain for thatched roofs, shingles were used instead; in volcanic areas rushes or boards were used instead of clay for the walls.[15]
Climate had a bearing on construction: In Kyoto in the lateHeian andMuromachi periods, roofs were clad in thin wooden shingles so owners would put stones on top to prevent the shingles from flying away in the wind.[16]
The social status of theminka owner was indicated by the size and complexity of the building. For thatched roofminka the number of crossed wooden members (umanori (馬乗り)) or bundles of miscanthus reeds along the ridge are a good indicator of the importance of the owner's status in the village.[17] Formachiya, the presence and elaborateness of anudatsu (卯立)—a wall that projects above the roof line—has a similar status. Theudatsu inherited the function of a fire break, but initially it was a method of establishing the extent of ownership in long terraces of row houses.[18]
During the evolution ofminka, themachiya townhouses gradually changed its construction away from perishable and flammable materials to those of a more durable nature. Thatched roofs were replaced with tiles and exposed timbers were covered up with layers of clay plastering.[19]
Minka owned by people of a higher social status began to incorporate elements of theshoin style, particularly in living rooms. The types of elements incorporated were limited bysumptuary laws to preserve strict class distinctions.[1]
There are four types of roof shape that can be differentiated forminka. Mostmachiya have gabledkirizuma (切妻) roofs, covered in shingles or tiles, and slanting down on either side of the house. The majority ofnōka have either thatchedyosemune (寄せ棟)-style hipped roofs, which slant down on four sides, or the more elaborateirimoya (入母屋) roof with multiple gables and a combination of thatched sections and shingled sections. Finally, thehogyo (方形) also slopes in four directions but is more pyramidal in shape.[20]
The primary purpose of shapingminka roofs was to accommodate the extensive precipitation experienced in many parts of Japan. A steeply peaked roof allows rain and snow to fall straight off, preventing water from getting through the roof into the home and, to a lesser extent, preventing the thatch from getting too wet and beginning to rot.[20][21]
At the peak and other places where roof sections came together decorations were added. Thatched roofs would have trimmed or transverse layers of straw, bamboo poles or planks of wood.[20] Tiled roofs have a variety of decorative plates to the ends of the ridge, for example,shachi (鯱) (fish).[22] They also had circular plates to the ends of the tiles at the eaves calledgatou (瓦当) that helped to deflect rain.[23]
The deep eaves of the farmhouse roof helped to protect the interior from driving rain. They stop the sun from entering the interior during the summer, and they allow the low rays of sun to warm the house during the winter. Often there is a timber-floored veranda (engawa (縁側 or 掾側)) around the house under the eaves and protected on the outside by storm shutters. In areas where there is heavy snow there may be a lowered earth-floored area outside the veranda further protected by shutters which helps to stop snow from blowing inside.[24]
The interior of aminka was generally divided into two sections: a floor of compacted earth, called adoma (土間) (the precursor to aGenkan) and a raised floor (generally around 20 inches (50 cm) above the level of thedoma), called ahiroma (広間), and, in larger, richer houses, an area or set of rooms covered in tatami ormushiro mats, called azashiki (座敷).[25] Large farmhouses sometimes had a raised, timber-floored internal veranda (hiroshiki (広敷)) that separated thedoma and thetatami areas.[1] In older houses, like the 17th century Yoshimura house, this separating zone was up to 2.5 m wide and servants apparently slept there.[26]
The raised floor often included a built-in hearth, called anirori (囲炉裏). Above the ash-filled hearth would hang a kettle suspended from the ceiling by an adjustable hearth hook made of wood, metal and bamboo. Thisjizai kagi (自在鈎) could be raised or lowered depending on the amount of heat required and was often shaped into decorative fish or blade shapes.[27] There was no chimney in the farmhouse and the smoke from theirori would rise through the roof drying the reeds and deterring insects. Theirori was the centre of communication for the house where the family gathered to chat and eat, and it was a cozy place around which to sleep.[28]
Though there were many possible arrangements of the rooms in a home, one of the most common, calledyomadori (四間取り), comprised four rooms in the raised floor portion of the house, adjacent to thedoma.[25] The arrangement and size of these rooms was made more flexible with the use of slidingfusuma andshōji partitions.[29]
The social status of the owner of house governed the conventions of their social relationships in the house. For example, the lowliest ranked people would sit on the earth floor whilst those above them would sit on thehiroshiki and those above them on thetatami floored inner rooms. Honoured guests would sit next with their back to thetokonoma (床の間).[30] The requirements for social etiquette extended to the family and there were particular seating positions (yokoza (横座)) positioned around the hearth.[31]
A number of styles of farmhouses came to maturity during theEdo period; some typical examples follow.
Thegasshō-zukuri (合掌造)-styleminka have vast roofs that are a large form of thesasu structural system. Their name derives from the similarity of the roof shape to two hands in prayer. They are frequently found in Gifu Prefecture.[32] The upper floors of the two- and three-story houses are used forsericulture, with storage space for trays of silkworms and mulberry leaves.[33]
Honmune-zukuri (本棟造) literally means "true ridge": The style has a nearly square plan with a gabled roof that is board covered. The gable end of the house is particularly impressive with its composition of beams, eaves and braces. The gable is topped by a birdlike ornament called asuzume-odori (雀踊り).[32] Houses of this type can be found in Gunma, Nara, Yamaguchi and Kouchi prefectures.[34]
Minka are generally treated as historiclandmarks, and many have been designated for preservation by municipalities or the national government. The tremendous regional variation ofminka has also been preserved inopen-air museums such asNihon Minka-en inKawasaki, where examples from around Japan are on display.[35] Minka have also been used as hotels and restaurants to be preserved.
Of particular note is thegasshō-zukuri (合掌造り,literally "clasped-hands" style), which is preserved in two villages in central Japan —Shirakawa inGifu Prefecture andGokayama inToyama Prefecture — that together have been designated aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO.[36]
In 1997, the Japan Minka Reuse and Recycle Association (JMRA) was established to promote the benefits and conservation ofminka. Oneminka that belonged to the Yonezu family was acquired by the JMRA and donated toKew Gardens as part of the Japan 2001 Festival. The wooden structure was dismantled, shipped and re-assembled in Kew with new walls and a thatched roof.[37]
Elements ofJapanese architecture | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Styles |
| |||||||||
| Types of building |
| |||||||||
| Roof styles | ||||||||||
| Structural and spatial | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Rooms | ||||||||||
| Furnishings | ||||||||||
| Partitions | ||||||||||
| Outdoor objects | ||||||||||
| Measurements | ||||||||||
| Organizations | ||||||||||
| Related topics |
| |||||||||
Authority control databases: National |
|---|
