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TATAMI (畳)
When we transition between 'summer' and 'winter' in the tearoom, one particular tatami mat is lifted up and replaced, to either conceal or reveal the sunken hearth.
https://twitter.com/camelliakyoto/status/1324877598783021056?s=20
So what are tatami?
#Kyoto #Japan #tatami #teaceremony #畳
Tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a floor covering in traditional-style Japanese rooms, teahouses & dōjōs.
A typical mat is made with a core of rice straw & covering of soft rush straw (草 'Igusa'). Tatami are often finished with plain or brocaded edging (縁 'Heri').
#Kyoto
A typical mat is made with a core of rice straw & covering of soft rush straw (草 'Igusa'). Tatami are often finished with plain or brocaded edging (縁 'Heri').
#Kyoto
Tatami are made to a standard size (twice as long as they are wide), and because of this are often used to indicate the size of a room (3 tatami room = 3 jō 畳 / 6 tatami room = 6 jō etc...).
But... each region has a slightly different definition of standard size.
#Japan #Kyoto
But... each region has a slightly different definition of standard size.
#Japan #Kyoto
Kyōma (京間) or 'Kyoto Tatami' measures 0.955m by 1.91m (5.5cm thick), whereas Edoma (江戸間) 'Tokyo Tatami' is slightly smaller at 0.88m by 1.76m.
Due to the confined nature of tearooms, they often make use of Daimedatami (大目/台目), three-quarter length tatami.
#Tatami #畳
Due to the confined nature of tearooms, they often make use of Daimedatami (大目/台目), three-quarter length tatami.
#Tatami #畳
Tatami are fairly soft to sit on, which is good as formal tea ceremonies typically do not make use of cushions or chairs.
In Japan shoes are -in most cases- taken off at the entrance, but it is also important not to walk barefoot on tatami. Always carry a spare set of socks
In Japan shoes are -in most cases- taken off at the entrance, but it is also important not to walk barefoot on tatami. Always carry a spare set of socks
The name tatami comes from the verb 'tatamu' (畳む), meaning 'to pile' or 'to fold'.
The original tatami would have been a thin mat (that could be folded away or stored in a pile when not in use) brought out for seating, affordable only to the wealthier classes.
#tatami #Japan
The original tatami would have been a thin mat (that could be folded away or stored in a pile when not in use) brought out for seating, affordable only to the wealthier classes.
#tatami #Japan
It wasn't until Muromachi times that whole rooms devoted to tatami first appeared with Shoin-zukuri (書院造), a style of residential architecture used for the military and religious classes.
These rooms, known as 'Zashiki' (座敷), came with many rules dictating who sat where.
These rooms, known as 'Zashiki' (座敷), came with many rules dictating who sat where.
